West Hartford, CT – The University of Hartford lacrosse team will welcome 15 freshmen and one transfer for the 2010 season, as announced by Head Coach Peter Lawrence on Wednesday.
“These guys are competitors, hard workers, and great students,” commented Lawrence. “This recruiting class, we focused on recruiting guys that are athletes and from winning programs.”
The Hawks welcome five Connecticut athletes to the 2010 lacrosse roster. Nick Ceme (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon), Adam Haig (New Milford, CT/New Milford), Drew Haig (New Milford, CT/New Milford), Colby Hine (Orange, CT/Amity Regional) and Frank Piechota (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) will join returning sophomore Steven Groccia from New Milford, CT as natives from Connecticut.
Rounding out the class of 2013 will be Mike Brown (Wilmington, DE/Charter School of Wilmington), Christopher DuPointe (Brookhaven, NY/St. John the Baptist Diocesan), Jared Franze (Glenville, NY/Niskayuna), Gus Guido (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep), Kyle Goodchild (Toronto, Canada/Courtice Secondary/University of Alabama Huntsville), Brendan Lake (Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego), Ben Liebel (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow/Avon Old Farms), Sam Muller (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood), Rory Nunamacher (Albany, NY/Guilderland), Jordan Parker (Pikesville, Maryland/Pikesville) and Craig Polchinski (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman).
Last season, the men's lacrosse team finished with a 2-11 overall record. Both wins came at home with a 14-5 win over Presbyterian and the upset over UMBC on Senior Day. Highlighting the Hawks' returning players is sophomore goalie Scott Bement who was named the America East Rookie of the Year and to the America East All-Rookie Team. Hartford also returns Aidan Genik, Ryan Compitello and Carter Bender – three all-rookie team selections. The trio of attackmen produced more than half of the Hawks' offense in 2009.
Mike Brown · Wilmington, DE · Defense
Brown played four years of lacrosse at the Charter School of Wilmington in Delaware. The 5-9, 180-pound midfielder was named first team all-conference and earned all-state honors on two occasions. Brown led his team to two final four finishes. Brown is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Nick Ceme · Norwalk, CT · Defense
Ceme is a 6-5, 205-pound defensemen who played four years of lacrosse at Brien McMahon High School. One of five Connecticut natives in the incoming class, Ceme captained the team as a senior and was named all-area, Second Team All-FCIAC and second team all-state. Ceme also played four years of high school football and basketball, earning all-area honors in both sports. Ceme is enrolled in the School of Engineering, Technology and Architecture.
Chris DuPointe · Brookhaven, NY · Defense
DuPointe comes out Brookhaven, NY where he attended St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School. The 6-4, 195-pound long-stick midfielder earned a spot on the all-league academic team. Dupointe was also a two-year member of the cross country and track and field squads. DuPointe is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Jared Franze ·Glenville, NY · Midfield
Franze comes to Hartford with a long list of accolades. The 5-10, 175-pound midfielder was tabbed a 2009 All-American. He led the Niskayuna Silver Warriors to three New York State Section 2 championships. The Warriors were also regional champions and state runner-ups in 2009. In addition, Franze was a two-time Suburban Council All-Star, a two-time Times Union First Team All-Area selection, and a two-time Troy Record Offensive First-Team honoree. As a senior in 2009, Franze recorded 78 goals, the most scored in a single-season at Niskayuna High School. Franze is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Gus Guido · Yonkers, NY · Attack
Guido, a 5-9, 175-pound attackman, was a letterwinner in lacrosse and wrestling at Iona Prep High School. He was a two-time first team all-league selection and was named first team all-metro as a senior. Guido is enrolled in the Barney School of Buisness.
Kyle Goodchild · Toronto, Ontario · Midfield
Goodchild, Hartford's newcomer from Canada, attended Courtice Secondary School. The 6-3, 210-pound Toronto native won the Ontario summer games in 2006, and led his box lacrosse team to provincial championships three-straight years. Additionally, he was deemed the team's most valuable player, and captained the team in 2009. Prior to Hartford, Goodchild spent two years at the University of Alabama Huntsville where he was a member of the ice hockey team. Goodchild is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Adam Haig · New Milford, CT · Defense
Haig joins the Hawks' defense from New Milford High School. The 5-10, 200-pound defensemen was a four-time all-conference selection, earning first-team honors as a senior. As a senior, he was also named a senior all-star and selected to the all-area team. In 2007, Haig led his high school team to a South West Conference championship. In addition to lacrosse, Haig played three years of high school ice hockey. Haig is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Drew Haig · New Milford, CT · Attack
Drew, twin brother of Adam, arrives at Hartford after playing lacrosse, football and ice hockey at New Milford High School. Haig joins the Hawks' attack at 5-11 and 195-pounds. At New Milford, he put up 200 career points, was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and was a three-time all-conference honoree. In 2007, he led his squad to a South West Conference championship. Haig is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Colby Hine · Orange, CT · Long Stick Midfield
Hine, a three-sport athlete from Amity Regional High School, is a 5-11, 180-pound long stick midfielder from Orange, CT. In addition to lacrosse, he played four years of high school football and was a two-year member of the varsity hockey team. A two-time SCC All-Conference Team selection and team captain, Hine was also a member of the CT Seminoles, which captured the Gait Cup in 2008. Hine is enrolled in Hillyer College.
Brendan Lake · Lake Oswego, OR · Defense
Lake played both lacrosse and football at Lake Oswego High School. The 6-1, 200-pound defender was a two-time first team all-conference pick in lacrosse. Lake also saw success on the football field, earning first team all-conference and first-team all-state honors. Lake is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Ben Liebel · Longmeadow, MA · Defense
Liebel, a 5-10, 195-pound defender was a two-time defensive MVP and a New England All-Star. Out of Avon Old Farms where he captained the team as a senior. Prior to his time at Avon Old Farms, Liebel racked up the accolades during his three-year stint with the lacrosse team at Longmeadow High School. Additionally, Liebel was a first team all-scholastic selection and was named First Team All-Western Massachusetts. Liebel is enrolled in Hillyer College.
Sam Muller · Ridgewood, NJ · Attack
Muller attended Ridgewood High School where he helped the Maroons to back-to-back New Jersey state championships. The 5-9, 188-pound attackman also led his squad to a Bergen County Championship in 2008. Muller is enrolled in Hillyer College.
Rory Nunamacher · Albany, NY · Midfield
Nunamacher, a 5-9, 165-pound midfielder out of Guilderland High School, led his team to a 2009 Sectional Championship. The two-time lacrosse all-star was also a first-team selection and received All-American honors in 2009. He spent two years with the Lacrosse Empire State Team, serving as team captain during his final stint. In addition, Nunamacher lettered in football and soccer, helping the soccer team to a Sectional Championship in 2009. Nunamacher is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Jordan Parker · Pikesville, MD · Midfield
Parker comes out of Baltimore, MD by way of the Boys' Latin School of Maryland and Pikesville High School. The 6-foot, 195-pound midfielder played two years of lacrosse at Boys' Latin and finished his high school career at Pikesville. During his final season, Parker led Pikesville to a 2009 Maryland 2A-1A State title. Parker also played four years of high school football and was named the varsity football squad's MVP in 2008. Parker is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Frank Piechota · Trumbull, CT · Goalie
Piechota, Hartford's final newcomer from Connecticut, is a 5-10, 210-pound goalie out of Trumbull High School. At Trumbull, Piechota was a three time FCIAC Honorable Mention and was also a football FCIAC selection. Piechota is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
Craig Polchinski · Huntington Station · Long Stick Midfielder
Polchinski, a 6-0, 170-pound defensemen, joins the Hawks after a successful career at Walt Whitman High School. The Huntington Station, NY native was named all-county, all-division and team defensive MVP while leading his team to a Suffolk County Division 1 championship. Polchinski is enrolled in the Barney School of Business.
