University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Receives Commitments from 14 Student-Athletes for 2009 Campaign

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany men's lacrosse coach Scott Marr announced on Wednesday, July 9 that fourteen student-athletes have made commitments to play for the Great Danes in the 2008-09 academic year. The list includes three U.S. Lacrosse High School All-Americans and one junior college All-America player.

"It's a very athletic and intelligent group of lacrosse players," offers Marr, who has a 73-51 career record in eight seasons with the UAlbany program. "This class is well-rounded and brings both excitement and passion to the game. We have increased our scoring ability with high-caliber attackmen like Dave Brock and Joe Resetarits, and the midfielders should make us solid at those positions for the next couple of years. We just continue to build with student-athletes from winning programs who are motivated to excel."

Joe Resetarits was named to the U.S. Lacrosse High School All-America squad for the second straight year. Resetarits, whose brother Frank earned first-team All-America honors as a collegian at UAlbany in 2007, was selected to play in the Under Armour All-Star Game, as one of the nation's top 46 scholastic boys' players, and the U.S. Lacrosse National Senior Showcase. He set New York's Section VI record with 98 goals in leading Hamburg High to the Class B state semifinals. Luke Cometti totaled 51 goals and 36 assists as a senior when West Genesee High won the 2008 New York Class A state championship. A U.S. Lacrosse All-American, Cometti was chosen Central New York Co-Player of the Year by the Syracuse Post-Standard. His brother, Mark, is a midfielder on the current UAlbany team.

Rocky Bonitatibus is the third high school All-American in this year's class. Bonitatibus, an All-Section I midfielder, accounted for 39 goals and 22 assists as a member of New York's fifth-ranked Class A squad. A native of Burlington, Ontario, Dave Brock was selected second-team NJCAA All-America for the second consecutive year at Herkimer County Community College. A first-team All-Region III player on two occasions, Brock (6'4", 210 pounds) amassed 115 goals and 51 assists in his two-year HCCC career.

UAlbany picked up two players named to the Ohio High School Lacrosse Association all-state team. Keith Olson, a first-team selection, led Upper Arlington H.S. to its fifth consecutive state championship. A Division I All-Region I choice, Olson was voted the 2008 OHSLA Midfielder of the Year. Daley Baker earned honorable mention all-state and first-team all-region recognition at Cleveland Heights High. In addition, Baker was second-team all-league as a ice hockey goalkeeper.

Shenendehowa High's John Olsen was tabbed All-Area by the Albany Times Union and Troy Record. Olsen, an All-Suburban Council attackman who piled up 185 career points, tallied 49 goals and 42 assists as a senior. Tim Monahan, an Amherst Central High defenseman and long-stick midfielder, was named All-Western New York for the third straight year. Matt Cushing, who also competed in football and wrestling at East Syracuse-Minoa H.S., had 25 goals and 17 assists from the midfield last spring.

Long Island scholastic standouts are well represented among this group. Dwayne Stewart, an All-Suffolk County performer, scored 38 goals and 42 assists at Copiague High. Jack Reynolds, a 6-foot-3 midfielder who attended Bridgton Academy last year, established Holy Trinity's single-season record with 43 goals in 2007. Dean Steinmann and John Carroll led Smithtown East to the Suffolk County Class A quarterfinals. Steinmann had 32 goals and nine assists from his midfield position, while Carroll made double-figure saves against six opponents, including 16 vs. Smithtown West in the quarterfinals. Travis Lyons, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound defenseman, was also a quality wide receiver for the Farmingdale High football program.

UAlbany returns 24 letterwinners from a team that reached the America East Conference championship final for the seventh consecutive season. The Great Danes have made four NCAA tournament appearances in that period.

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2009 University at Albany Men's Lacrosse Commitments

Name, Pos., Hometown (High School)

Daley Baker, Mid., Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Cleveland Heights)

Rocky Bonitatibus, Mid., Yorktown Heights, N.Y. (Yorktown)

Dave Brock, Att., Burlington, Ontario (Nelson / Herkimer County C.C.)

John Carroll, Glk., Nesconset, N.Y. (Smithtown East)

Luke Cometti, Mid., Syracuse, N.Y. (West Genesee)

Matt Cushing, Mid., Minoa, N.Y. (East Syracuse-Minoa)

Travis Lyons, Def., Farmingdale, N.Y. (Farmingdale)

Tim Monahan, Def., Williamsville, N.Y. (Amherst Central)

John Olsen, Att., Clifton Park, N.Y. (Shenendehowa)

Keith Olson, Mid., Upper Arlington, Ohio (Upper Arlington)

Joe Resetarits, Att., Hamburg, N.Y. (Hamburg)

Jack Reynolds, Mid., Farmingdale, N.Y. (Holy Trinity / Bridgton Academy)

Dean Steinmann, Mid., Nesconset, N.Y. (Smithtown East)

Dwayne Stewart, Mid., Copiague (Copiague, N.Y.)