WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford men's lacrosse program will welcome 14 freshmen for the 2009 season, as announced by head coach Peter Lawrence on Wednesday.
Scott Baratta (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst), Scott Bement (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua), Carter Bender (Caledon, Ontario/Brewster Academy), Martin Bowes (Quincy, MA/Quincy), Rob Chana (Lake Forest, IL/Bridgton Academy), Ryan Compitello (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge), Clark DeGeer (Orangeville, Ontario/Trinity-Pawling), Aidan Genik (Toronto, Ontario/University of Western Ontario), Steven Groccia (New Milford, CT/New Milford), Scott Kessler (Shutesbury, MA/Williston-Northampton), Ben Knapton (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua), Mike Pelzar (West Granby, CT/Granby Memorial), Austin Rogers (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) and Kevin Whalen (Topsfield, MA/Brewster Academy) round out the Class of 2012 for the Hawks.
“I think we have a terrific group of guys in this year's freshman class,” said Lawrence. “I am confident they will have a huge impact on the program and our upcoming season.”
Baratta, a 5-10, 170-pound attackman, joins the Hawks after a successful career at Lindenhurst High School. He was a two-year captain and an all-division selection.
Bement comes to Hartford with a long list of accolades. The 6-0, 175-pound goalie was tabbed an All-American as a senior and was named Finger Lakes Player of the Year. A first team all-league and all-tournament team selection, he was also the 2008 New York State Section V Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
Bender is a product of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire as a post-grad in 2007, helping the team to a 14-2 record and a Northern New England Lacrosse League Championship. The 6-3, 205-pound attackman was the NNELL leading scorer with 45 goals and 37 assists, was named to the NNELL First Team and was selected to play in the East/West All-Star game. One of three Canadians in the incoming class, he played for the two Ontario Brogdon Cup teams that competed in Baltimore in 2005 and 2006. He also played for the Ontario Edge Seniors who were undefeated in 30 games in the US in 2006, winning the NDP National Tournament of Champions.
Bowes, a 6-2, 185-pound midfielder, played four years of varsity lacrosse and soccer and two years of varsity basketball at Quincy High School. He was the lacrosse team's leading scorer his final three seasons and was tabbed an Eastern Mass All-Star as a senior.
Chana comes out of Lake Forest, IL by way of Bridgton Academy and Lake Forest High School. The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman played three seasons of lacrosse at Lake Forest, helping the team to back-to-back semifinal appearances. He was also a first team all-conference selection and twice represented Illinois as an all-star. Following high school, he played one season at Bridgton Academy.
Compitello, a 5-9, 185-pound attackman, played both lacrosse and soccer at Happaugue High School. Following a junior season in which he was named all-division, he captained the lacrosse team as a senior and earned all-county and academic All-American honors.
DeGeer, another of Hartford's imports from north of the border, played three years of lacrosse at Trinity-Pawling School. The 6-1, 180-pound midfielder was named to the All-New England Team as a senior and was runner-up for midfielder of the year. He also won two Ontario Provincial A box championships with the Orangeville Northmen.
Genik, Hartford's final newcomer from Canada, is a 6-2, 190-pound attackman who played at Malvern C.I. In addition to being a member of the Edge Ontario Selects squad that went undefeated, he was a bronze medalist in the 2005 u-16 Canadian National Lacrosse Championship. He was also a gold medalist at the 2007 U-19 National Lacrosse Championship and played for the Ontario team that won the Brogden Cup in 2006.
Groccia, a 5-11, 190-pound defenseman out of New Milford High School, led his team to a 2007 SWC Championship. A three-time all-conference honoree and an all-state selection as a senior, he was also a member of the CT Hurricanes, which captured the 2007 Gait Cup Championship and qualified for the Dick's Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions.
Kessler, a 5-11, 195-pound defenseman, was a letterwinner in lacrosse and football at The Williston-Northampton School. A three-year starter on the lacrosse team, he was a three-time all-league pick and was selected to play in the West/East All-Star Game. He also played varsity football and hockey for three years. An all-league selection for football as a senior, he was awarded The Denman Bowl for excellence in athletics.
Knapton was a three-year starter and all-league selection at Canandaigua High School. The 6-4, 185-pound midfielder was named team captain as a senior and was selected to the Section V All-Tournament Team. He was also invited to the National Senior Showcase Tournament in Chicago. He was also a three-time all-league selection in swimming and a second team pick in soccer.
Pelzar, a 5-10, 155-pound attackman, was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Granby Memorial High School. An all-conference honoree as a junior and senior, he was named a CHSCA All-Star in his final season. He also lettered in wrestling and was an academic all-conference selection.
Rogers played both lacrosse and football at Canandaigua High School. The 6-1, 185-pound midfielder was a two-time Finger Lakes All-League selection in lacrosse and was named to the Section V All-Tournament Team as a senior. He was also a two-time all-league pick in football and led his team to a Section V championship in 2007.
Whalen attended Brewster Academy and played four years of varsity lacrosse and two years of varsity soccer. The 6-1, 190-pound midfielder helped his team to four-straight Northern New England League and Lakes Region League championships. He captained the team as a senior and was named second-team all-league.
