Animated Lacrosse
Plays and Drills for
your Team

The College of Holy Cross’ first Class of 2015 commit comes from New Jersey.

Bernardsville, N.J., resident and Seton Hall Prep defenseman Matt Farrell has decided on the Crusaders,  a verbal first reported when it was made by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider special coverage section.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Farrell is a lefty whose is a competitive and gritty one-on-one defender with a knack for getting groundballs and doing the dirty work.

“As my club coach, Chris Roy, says ‘First time,’ ” Farrell said.

Here’s a highlight reel of Farrell in action from this summer.

Farrell is also a standout in club and high school hockey. The forward led Seton Hall Prep’s varsity hockey team in goals as a sophomore.

“I feel that hockey has helped make me a better lacrosse player,” Farrell said.

Now, here’s a Q&A with Matt on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
I chose Holy Cross because of its academic reputation and rising lacrosse program. I feel it is a school I can handle as a student athlete and know it will provide me with an excellent education.  I have a lot of respect for (Holy Cross) Head Coach (Jim) Morrissey, the Patriot League Coach of the Year.

I am impressed by what he and (Holy Cross Assistant) Coach (Justin) Hager have done with the lacrosse program. They have welcomed me with open arms and I look forward to wearing purple and gray.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I also strongly considered Yale, Lafayette, UMass and St. Joseph’s. I visited all of them.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
Since I am a lefty, there is always room for improvement with my right hand. The ability to clear and pass the ball with precision is crucial now and even more so over the next few years.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse?
I was introduced to the game when I was in second grade by Kyle Kirst (Summit, N.J., assistant coach). He was my Somerset Hills Lacrosse coach and encouraged me to try out for Leading Edge.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play for Leading Edge Elite (N.J.). This past summer, my 2015 team was tournament champions of NSCLA, King Of the Hill, Best of the Best and Jersey Shootout, which got us a lot of exposure.

I have attended Philly Showcase and the Loyola Rising Junior Shootout. I played in the Loyola all-star game.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank all Leading Edge coaches, especially Coach Mark Moreau and Coach Chris Roy. Coach Roy was extremely helpful in the recruiting process.

I would also like to thank my Seton Hall Prep, coach, David Giarrusso.

Of course, special thanks to my parents for all the driving and sacrifices they have made for me.