BLOOMFIELD, Conn. – In conjunction with the Bloomfield Raiders, the University of Hartford men's lacrosse team and coaching staff have helped spearhead the development of the first-ever lacrosse program in Bloomfield, one of three towns that the University lies in.

Founder Bill Rabbit's mission is to start two youth lacrosse teams in the town of Bloomfield for the spring 2011 season. The first team is planned to consist of fifth and sixth grade boys while the second squad would be for boys in the seventh and eighth grades. Rabbit not only hopes to jump start a lacrosse program in Bloomfield; he also hopes to do this at zero cost to the players and their families. Earlier this month, a charity game was held where close to $1,000 was raised for the initiative. Donations of lacrosse equipment are also being collected to help make Rabbit's mission a reality.

To kick-off the initiative, members of the Hawks' lacrosse team and coaching staff hosted a pair of introductory clinics at Bloomfield's Carmen Arace Field earlier this month. Over 30 boys ranging from grades five through eight attended the free clinics where they learned about the sport of lacrosse and received hands-on skills instructions from Hartford's players and coaches.    

“Having the opportunity to help the game of lacrosse grow and seeing the smiles on those kids' faces makes this all worth it for me, the Hawks' coaching staff and the team,” remarked head coach Peter Lawrence. “I am ecstatic to see how the program develops and am looking forward to continuing to work with this group of kids.”

The 2010-11 edition of the Hawks kick off their fall ball season with the annual red/white scrimmage on Saturday, October 2 at 1:00 p.m. Hartford will also be in action this fall at the Catamount Classic – Lacrosse for a Cure held on October 10 in Braintree, Mass. All proceeds from the Catamount Classic will be donated to testicular cancer research at the Dana-Farber Institute.