What team led the nation’s No. 1 lacrosse hotbed of Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut in Division I- and Division II-bound seniors?
The answer: St. Anthony’s.
The Friars had an astonishing nine players sign National Letters of Intent during the Nov. 10-17 signing period.
You can check the complete list simply by scrolling down this page.
One of those players is Nicholas Mattei, who is bound for D-II power New York Tech. (Above, Nicholas is shown signing his National Letter of Intent with his father, Larry, looking on.)
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Mattei, a right-hander, is a two-way midfielder who can do it all, including face off. A superb athlete, he also wrestles and was a member of the Friars’ football team that beat Iona Prep 41-23 on Saturday in the CHSAA title game at Mitchel Field in Uniondale.
Here’s a Q&A with Nicholas on his commitment:
What were the main factors in your decision to attend New York Tech?
New York Tech was a perfect fit for me with lacrosse and it had everything I wanted to study academically. The rich lacrosse tradition with their championships and the coaches made me feel really welcome. When I got on campus, the feeling was real homey and comfortable.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
The other schools I considered were Ohio State, Limestone, Adelphi, Binghamton, Delaware and CW Post.
What will be the biggest adjustment you will have to make to the college game?
A big adjustment will be the speed of the game at the college level and I will work real hard to figure it out. Being a fixture in the weight room to get bigger and stronger for the next level and balancing the time between lacrosse and school work.
What players have you looked up to as you have moved up through the varsity ranks?
Even though I was signed as a faceoff specialist, defense was always a strength of mine and I love to play mind games at the X. I am a middie who can play both ends of the field as well as face off. I will do whatever the coaches need me to do
What players have you looked up to as you have moved up through the varsity ranks?
At St. Anthony’s, I’ve looked up to a couple of players. Tommy Schreiber, who is at Princeton now, is the ultimate midfielder who always goes 100 mph. Brendan Schroeder ( Navy ) was Mr. Steady and Level Headedness and John Antonaides ( Hofstra ) was the faceoff guy I always tried to be like. They have all helped me along tremendously to reach my potential and they all were really hard workers and always gave 110 percent.
Also, if I had to pick a coach, Tom’s father, Doug Schreiber who was an All-American at Maryland, has taught me so much about the game while coaching me at St Anthony’s.
When did you first realize you had the potential to play at the college level?
When I play my style of lacrosse, the comments I get from coaches and other influential lacrosse people made me realize that I could potentially play at the next level. Also, I’ve played with many of the D-I and D-II signees from Long Island in high school and in club ball, so I knew I was right there. St. Anthony’s HS plays at such a high level which compares to many college programs. That’s why we had nine boys and seven girls sign NLIs for lacrosse on signing day.
* For background info on Nicholas Mattei, check out his recruiting profile by clicking here.
St. Anthony’s senior commits
Christian Bennardo, Villanova, attack
Brian Cregan, Sacred Heart, midfield
Greg Danseglio, Virginia, defense
Matt Delea, Binghamton, defense
Brian Kensil, Jacksonville, attack
Joe LoCascio, Maryland, midfield
Charlie Raffa, Maryland, midfield
* Be sure to report any commitments to us at info@laxlessons.com.
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Posted In: Recruiting Rundown
We are all so grateful for your blog. Keep up the great work.