Siena College is off to a new start.
Brian Brecht, who served as the Saints’ head coach for the last seven seasons, left Loudonville to take over the Rutgers program.
Enter John Svec.
The new Siena head coach had been an assistant an assistant at Hobart.
Despite the transition, there’s little doubt Svec will follow the same recruiting formula that was so successful for Brecht.
Namely, recruiting players from the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse, the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region.
Among them is Tyler Lutjen.
The Shoreham-Wading River senior goaltender has signed with the Saints.
The 6-foot right-hander is a strong stopper with good stick skills, clearing ability and communication skills.
Here are Tyler’s thoughts on his selection of Siena:
What were the main factors in your decision?
When I chose Siena, I really felt that it was a great fit for me academically and athletically.
One of the main factors was Siena’s relatively small size and its small class sizes. I felt that the class sizes weren’t that much different from a high school class, making it an easier transition into college life.
I also like how the lacrosse team was a really tightly knit team and they were always together.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
There were schools that were interested in me, but none showed as much interest as Siena. I made a decision early on to commit to Siena because I felt very comfortable with the school and lacrosse program.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
Clearing, communication, and I am mentally sound in tough situations. I also feel that I am very consistent. As for my style of play, I am technically sound between the pipes.
What areas of your game do you think you need to improve on?
I think that there is always room for improvement in every area of the game and not one area is more important than the other. One thing that I would like to improve on is quickness to save the inside shots.
When did you first realize you had the potential to play at the college level?
My goal was always to play lacrosse at a college level. I first realized that I had the potential to play at the college level in middle school when my team had a very successful season when I was in seventh grade.
What were some of the big summer showcase events you’ve competed in the last couple of years and how did you do at them?
I have always played for my school travel team run by Coach (Tom) Rotanz in the summer. By doing so my teammates and I learned to play together and develop as a team. In the past couple of summers we have attended King of the Hill, Tri-State, Ohio State Team Camp and Lake Placid.
At the 2010 Lake Placid Tournament, my team beat the FCA national team on the way to winning the championship and I received the tournament MVP. This past summer, we went out to Ohio State and won that Team Camp.
I felt that playing together all summer helped us win the Suffolk County Championship this past spring.
For more info on Tyler, check out his player profile by clicking here.
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Posted In: Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown
