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New men’s lacrosse coach Tom Mariano is building a new culture at Pace University.

Mariano took over the Pleasantville, N.Y.-based Division II program in July after leaving his post at Sacred Heart University. If you’ve been following, he’s been making his mark on the recruiting scene, and judging by his latest commit, culture is one of the reasons why.

Just listen to Tyler Mittleman, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior lefty midfielder from East Islip High School on Long Island, whose commitment to Pace was first reported earlier this week by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.

Here’s a Q&A with Tyler on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
The culture and atmosphere of Pace lacrosse. I was excited about the opportunity to be part of the rebuilding of the program. Also, Coach Mariano has a vision for the lacrosse program and is a solid coach.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I also considered Hamilton, Skidmore, Catholic University, Wesleyan and Sacred Heart.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I have the ability to get to the cage, especially on re-dodges. My style of play can be considered unorthodox.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
My opposite hand.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
My dad played and also coached at the varsity level. It was great going to Saturday practices with the team.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play for the Connecticut Hurricanes, and showcased in King of the Hill, Elite 180, Gait Cup, UMass Mid-Summer Classic, Bulldog Bash, Hotbeds and MVP.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my parents for supporting me, my high school coach for helping me grow as a lacrosse player since kindergarten, Tim McIntee for helping me make strides to become the player I am today, and lastly, Coach Darryl Delia in helping me through the recruiting process and giving me that extra step I needed to become a better person and better player.

Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.