Future Minuteman set state career records at Walpole with 686 points and 96 TDs.

Nov. 18, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. – UMass men’s lacrosse NLI signee Ryan Izzo set the Massachusetts state high school record for career scoring (686 points) and touchdowns (96) as a senior football player at Walpole High School. Izzo was one of seven early signees for the 2010-11 men’s lacrosse season.

The senior running back set the records last weekend as he scored one touchdown and kicked just two extra points Sunday during a 35-14 loss to Natick, but it was enough to give him Massachusetts career records with 686 points and 96 touchdowns.

The previous records — both held by Nathan Sherr of Austin Prep (2003-06) — were 682 points and 95 touchdowns. He also finished No. 2 in career rushing yardage (5,895). The record is 6,688, set in 1995. In addition, he has gone 101-of-117 in extra points and 3-of-4 in field goals.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Izzo said the records “feel great. It’s a terrific honor. It’s been a great time in my life. Coming today (first loss in 10 games), I can’t really give a full answer. Going back to my sophomore year, our offensive line has done a terrific job of downfield blocking.”

Izzo said he would trade his records in a moment for a victory against the undefeated Natick powerhouse. He conceded there was “some pressure” late in the season as he approached the records. “You’d see it in the papers and it was on the school announcements,” he noted. “I’m glad I got it over finally.”

However, his football career isn’t quite yet complete. He can add to his legend when the Rebels take on Weymouth in their traditional Thanksgiving Day finale.

Izzo will play midfield this spring at Walpole. Izzo had 58 goals and 15 assists as a junior and has 93 goals for his career.

Izzo will be joined at UMass by six others who signed during the early signing period. Face-off specialist Joseph Calvello (Naperville North in Illinois), defenseman Conor Casey (Mount St. Joseph’s in Maryland), long-stick midfielder Bryson Craft (Episcopal in Philadelphia), defenseman James Fahey (St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass.), midfielder Tyler Knight (St. Andrews in Florida) and attackman Connor Mooney (Avon Old Farms in Connecticut from Wilbraham, Mass.)

Nov. 6, 2009

BALTIMORE, MD – U.S. Lacrosse recently announced the final 23-man roster for the 2010 U.S. men’s national team that will compete in the FIL World Championships in Manchester, England next summer (July 14-24). Among the 23 are three former Johns Hopkins standouts as Paul Rabil ‘07, Stephen Peyser ‘07 and Shawn Nadelen ‘01 all made the final cut. Rabil and Peyser are two of the 10 midfielders named to the team, while Nadelen is one of the six defenders selected.

Nadelen was a four-year regular for the Blue Jays from 1998-2001 and served as a captain during Pietramala’s first season as the head coach at Johns Hopkins. Nadelen earned Second Team All-America honors as a senior and twice guided the Blue Jays to the Final Four during his career. He is entering his sixth season as the defensive coordinator at Towson University and has had a very successful professional career with the Washington Bayhawks. He is the last remaining original member of the franchise as he has been with the Bayhawks since the formation of the league in 2001.

“Our men’s lacrosse program is very proud of the accomplishments of Paul, Stephen and Shawn,” Johns Hopkins men’s lacrosse coach Dave Pietramala noted. “We are confident they will represent the United States with great character and integrity, much the same way they represented Johns Hopkins University during their time here.”

Since the World Championships debuted in 1974, Rabil, Peyer and Nadelen are the 24th, 25th and 26th Johns Hopkins players to be selected to the U.S. Team and each will be making their first appearance on the team. Johns Hopkins has been represented by at least two players in each of the 10 championships.

Rabil was a four-time All-American and three-time first team selection during his career at Johns Hopkins from 2005-08. A member of JHU’s 2005 and 2007 NCAA Championship teams, he graduated as JHU’s career scoring leader among midfielders with 111 goals and 67 assists for 178 points. He is also JHU’s career scoring leader in NCAA Tournament games with 28 goals and 23 assists for 51 points in 14 games. He has continued his career at the professional level as a member of the MLL’s Boston Cannons.

Peyser twice earned All-America honors during his career from 2005-08. He garnered third team honors as a junior and second team honors as a senior. He was also a member of JHU’s 2005 and 2007 NCAA Championship teams and finished his career ranked eighth in school history in career faceoffs taken (500) and ninth in school history in career faceoffs won (285) and career faceoff winning percentage (.570). In addition, he ranks 20th in career ground balls (235) and totaled 49 goals and 23 assists. Peyser is a member of the MLL’s Long Island Lizards.

MIKE LEVEILLE AND RYAN POWELL NAMED TO U.S. NATIONAL TEAM

BALTIMORE – Former Syracuse lacrosse stars Mike Leveille and Ryan Powell were named to the U.S. National Lacrosse Team on Monday, Nov. 2. The duo will represent the United States at the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship next July in Manchester, England.

The final 23-man U.S. roster was picked from a pool of 41 players that made up the U.S. training team. In addition to Leveille and Powell, former Orange standouts Matt Abbott and Steven Brooks were members of the training team that participated in several fall exhibitions.

“I want to congratulate the entire pool of players on their efforts, attitude and stellar play over three tremendous weekends this fall,” said Team USA head coach Mike Pressler. “Without question, this was the best way to go in this thorough and, at times, exhausting process. We feel these 23 men give us the best chance to win the gold at the 2010 world championship in Manchester.”

At Syracuse, Leveille was a four-time All-American (2005-08) and won the Tewaaraton Trophy winner as college lacrosse’s player of the year in 2008. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2008 NCAA Championship after helping Syracuse win the national title. Leveille finished his SU career ninth in school history in goals (132), 12th in assists (83) and 12th in points (215).

Powell earned All-America honors four times at Syracuse (1997-00) and was a member of the 2000 national championship squad. He is tied for second on the Orange’s career points list with his brother (Casey) at 287.

Powell is one of five players on the 2010 roster that were also members of the 2006 U.S. squad, coached by SU head coach John Desko, that was  the runner-up to Canada at the world championship. The others are Ryan Boyle, Kevin Cassese, Matt Striebel and Kyle Sweeney.

The team’s first appearance together will be at the 2010 US Lacrosse National Convention in Baltimore, Md. from Jan. 15-17, followed by their first on-field competition together at the 2010 Champions Challenge at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. against Duke and Army from Jan. 30-31.

2010 U.S. Men’s National Team:
A Ryan Boyle – Boston Cannons (Princeton ’04)
M Kevin Cassese – Boston Cannons (Duke ’03)
D Joe Cinosky – Toronto Nationals (Maryland ’08)
M/A Ned Crotty – Duke ’09
M Kyle Dixon – Washington Bayhawks (Virginia ’06)
G Brian Dougherty – Long Island Lizards (Maryland ’96)
D DJ Driscoll – Chicago Machine (Notre Dame ’06)
G Adam Fullerton – Denver Outlaws (Army ’08)
A Mike Leveille – Chicago Machine (Syracuse ’08)
D Eric Martin – Denver Outlaws (Salisbury ’04)
D Ryan McClay – Boston Cannons (Cornell ’03)
A Brendan Mundorf – Denver Outlaws (UMBC ’06)
D Shawn Nadelen – Washington Bayhawks (Johns Hopkins ’01)
M Stephen Peyser – Long Island Lizards (Johns Hopkins ’08)
A Ryan Powell – Big Foot LC (Syracuse ’00)
M Paul Rabil – Boston Cannons (Johns Hopkins ’08)
M Chris Schiller – Sailin’ Shoe LC (Penn State ’99)
M Max Seibald – Denver Outlaws (Cornell ’09)
M Alex Smith – Washington Bayhawks (Delaware ’07)
M Matt Striebel – Chicago Machine (Princeton ’01)
D Kyle Sweeney – Boston Cannons (Georgetown ’03)
A Drew Westervelt – Denver Outlaws (UMBC ’07)
M Matt Zash – Long Island Lizards (Duke ’06)

- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: NEW YORK’S COLLEGE TEAM -