Five Hofstra University alumni and one current Pride player are among the 120 players that US Lacrosse has invited to try out for the 2006 U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team. The tryouts will be held from June 13-16 at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and 23 players will be selected from those tryouts to represent the United States at the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships in July 2006 in London, Ontario.
A total of 30 attackmen, 42 midfielders, 36 defensemen and 12 goalies were invited to participate by the 2006 U.S. Team Men's Player Selection Committee, chaired by three-time U.S. team player Larry Quinn. The players were selected from a field of approximately 200 applicants. Attackman Tom Kessler (Class of '02), midfielders Blake Miller (Class of '96), Doug Shanahan (Class of '01) and Ryan Vilar (Class of '05), and defensemen Nicky Polanco (Class of '02) and Brett Moyer (Class of '06) are the Hofstra representatives selected to the 120.
Shanahan, a three-time All-American selection including a first team pick as a senior in 2001, captured the inaugural Tewaaraton Trophy and the Lt. Ray Enners Award (USILA) as college lacrosse player of the year and the Lt. Donald McLaughlin Award as USILA Division I Midfielder of the Year. Polanco, a two-time All-American including a first team selection in 2002, was an alternate on the 2002 U.S. team, was a CAA Most Valuable Player and was the named the Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.
Miller, an honorable mention All-American in 1996, was a member of the 1998 U.S. National Team and was named the MLL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. He currently leads the MLL in goals (10) and points (14) as a member of the Long Island Lizards. Kessler, who is Hofstra's all-time career goal scorer with 140 and ranks second in career points with 207, was a two-time All-American as a member of the Pride. He was a three-time all-conference first team selection, and was a second-team All American as a senior in 2002.
Vilar, an All-CAA pick in 2003, tallied 40 goals and added 17 assists during his Pride career that ended last month. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Barrage in the fifth round of the MLL Draft last week and will play in the 64th Annual USILA STX-Geico North-South All-Star Classic this Saturday, June 11 at SUNY-Cortland. Brett Moyer earned his second All-American honor last week when he was named to the USILA All-America second team after leading the Pride defense and being named the Colonial Athletic Association's Defensive Player of the Year. Moyer was a member of the United States Under 19 team that captured the world championship in 2003.
All members of the 2002 U.S. Men's Team, which defeated Canada to win its sixth consecutive ILF Championship, are automatically granted a tryout if they desire one and 12 players will be attempting to make the U.S. team for the second straight time. Trying out from the 2002 team are Ryan Boyle (Princeton) and Michael Powell (Syracuse) on attack; Kevin Cassese (Duke), Doug Shanahan (Hofstra) and Matt Striebel (Princeton) at midfield; John Glatzel (Syracuse), Michael Howley (Maryland), Tim Knowles (Duke), Ryan McClay (Cornell), Ryan Mollett (Princeton) and Todd Rassas (Notre Dame) on defense; and Trevor Tierney (Princeton) at goalie. Adam Doneger (Johns Hopkins) and Nick Polanco (Hofstra), alternates for the 2002 team, were also invited.
Additionally, five members of the 1998 U.S. Team-attackmen Jesse Hubbard (Princeton) and Casey Powell (Syracuse), midfielder Blake Miller (Hofstra), defenseman Pat McCabe (Syracuse) and goalie Brian Dougherty (Maryland)-received invitations.
Syracuse head coach John Desko is the head coach for the 2006 U.S. Men's Team. He will be assisted by Denison's Mike Caravana, Hobart's Matt Kerwick and Albany's Scott Marr.
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse.
