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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's lacrosse team and head coach
Mike Morgan have inked nine future Warriors during last month's early signing period. All nine have signed National Letters (NLI) of Intent and are set to join the program next fall.
The newest Warriors will help usher in the program's first season in the Division I era as a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2019-20. There are three attack, three midfielders, two defenders and one goalkeeper in the bunch, and altogether they represent four different states, with five from Massachusetts, two from Maine and one each from California and Illinois. Three high school All-Americans are included in the bunch, and all of them have earned their share of state, regional and conference accolades, in addition to helping their teams reach high levels of success, as well.
"The coaching staff was once again very pleased with our early signees," Morgan stated. "As our expectations continue to rise both as a program and as an institution, we try to identify student-athletes who possess not only talent but the many, many intangibles that have helped us reach the level we expect to be at now and in the future, in addition to being good citizens in the community and classroom. We knew they'd help us succeed as a Division II program and we know they'll continue to make us successful as we begin the Division I transition when they arrive."
HUNTER ADAM
Position: Attack
Height/Weight: 5-9 // 160
Hometown: Waltham, Mass.
High School: Newton North
Club Team: Central Kings
Major: Business
About Adam: Two-time Bay State League All-Star at Newton North High School, where he is a four-year lacrosse letterwinner … Earned Eastern Mass. All-Star honors as a junior … Finished with 48 goals, 32 assists and 53 ground balls as a junior following a 43-goal sophomore campaign … Born May 31, 2001 … Son of Shelli and Russell … Brother to Bryce … Plans to major in business.
Morgan on Adam: "Hunter is a great scorer with very high-level hands. He has all the attributes that a coach's son typically has, being that his IQ is high and he has the ability to do many things with his game. He has been playing at a very high level since his freshman year of high school."
JACK BARRON
Position: Midfield/Attack
Height/Weight: 5-9 // 175
Hometown: Longmeadow, Mass.
High School: Longmeadow
Club Team: Pioneer Valley Kings
Major: Engineering
About Barron: Three-time Western Massachusetts state champion at Longmeadow High School … Named an All-American and Top-100 Mass. High School Player by the New England Lacrosse Journal after his junior season … Two-time All-Western Mass. honoree … Finished with 79 points (59g, 20a) as a junior following a 36-point sophomore campaign … Named a BostonLax All-Underclassman Team member after sophomore season … Born Oct. 10, 2000 … Son of Pamela and John … Brother to Ashley … Plans to major in engineering.
Morgan on Barron: "Jack has the ability to be great at playing a few roles at the college level. He is a tough, hardnosed player who can help you between the lines, on offense, defense and is solid at the X. He has been one of the top players for one of the top high school programs in western Massachusetts for the past three years. Jack will also follow in his father's footsteps, as the latter played hockey for the Warriors."
ALLYN FRENCH
Position: Faceoff/Midfield
Height/Weight: 5-9 // 210
Hometown: Dracut, Mass.
High School: Dracut
Club Team: HGR Lacrosse
Major: Engineering
About French: Three-sport captain and four-year letterwinner in three different sports at Dracut High School … Has already earned a pair of All-Merrimack Valley Conference honors and was an all-state selection as a junior … Seven-time captain across the course of his career in lacrosse, football and wrestling … Has over 180 points (92g, 91a) after three seasons and owns a career 76.8-percent faceoff clip … Set the school single-season scoring record in lacrosse as a junior … Also a three-time all-league selection in football and was named Defensive Player of the Year this past fall … Played for HGR Lacrosse club team … Born March 3, 2001 … Son of Janet and Dave … Brother to Graeme and Owen … Plans to major in engineering.
Morgan on French: "Allyn is a very good face-off midfielder, as well as an overall player and athlete. He has great size and technique at the X, but also the ability to handle the ball. His combination of athletic ability, as well as his size makes him really tough between the lines."
AIDEN GLOVER
Position: Attack
Height/Weight: 5-11 // 170
Hometown: Brunswick, Maine
High School: Brunswick
Major: Exercise Science
About Glover: Three-time All-KVAC selection, including twice being named to the first team … All-American and KVAC Conference Player of the Year as a junior … Has helped team win back-to-back state titles … Finished with 100-plus points in each of his last two years, including 118 as a junior (74g, 44a) and 108 as a sophomore (68g, 40a) … Was named team captain as a junior … Had 78 points as a freshman (42g, 36a) … National Honor Society member … Born Oct. 20, 2000 … Son of Laura and Donald … Brother to Christian and Cameron … Plans to major in Exercise Science.
Morgan on Glover: "Aiden is a great all-around lacrosse player with vision, dodging ability and is a very accurate shooter. Another coach's son with a high level understanding of the game, he is a player who can make all the highlight plays but also rides and is tough on ground balls."
STEVE LAUTER
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6-0 // 180
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High School: Torrey Pines
Club Team: RC Lacrosse / San Diego
Major: Business/Marketing
About Lauter: Attends Torrey Pines High School … Earned the #1 spot at the Las Vegas Blackjack Classic Tournament for RC Lacrosse Elite club team … Went 8-0 for Torrey Pines, helping team win 2018 C.I.F. state title and a No. 13 national ranking and first in both the Western United States and all of California … Recognized as game leader four times during junior season … Chosen for Carolina Summer Shootout All-Star Roster in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 2016 and 2017 … Second team all-conference selection as a sophomore .. Was also part of Florida Generals team as a freshman and sophomore, winning Palm Cast title in 2016 and helping Oak Hall High School win district title that spring … Gave back to the community by participating with the Harlem Lacrosse Program, Feeding San Diego, and volunteer at a VA Hospital … Born Nov. 28, 2000 … Son of Colleen and Stephen … Brother to Matthew and Chris … Plans to major in business/marketing.
Morgan on Lauter: "Steve was one of the top goalies on the west coast and the starting goalie for Torrey Pines, who finished third in the country last year. He has a very quick stick and is an athlete in net. Steve's presence can command a defense and he has a great IQ of the game. He brings a great outlet game, as well, which will be great in our transition game."
RILEY REED
Position: Longstick Midfield
Height/Weight: 5-10 // 165
Hometown: Falmouth, Maine
High School: Falmouth
Club Team: Team DIRIGO
About Reed: Four-year starter at Falmouth High School … Three-time Maine Lacrosse All-Star … Two-time Maine Telegram All-State honoree … 2018 US Lacrosse All-American … 2018 First Team SMAA All-Star … 2018 Co-SMAA Player of the Year … Totaled 84 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers as a junior along with five points (4g, 1a) … Serving as team captain as a senior … Born Jan. 23, 2001 … Son of Stephanie and John … Brother to Haley.
Morgan on Reed: "Riley was one of the top cover long stick midfielders that we had seen last summer. He has great size, athleticism and stick skills. Riley has been recognized as one the top defensemen in Maine for the past three seasons. He will bring a college-level toughness and the athleticism to compete with top offensive players."
JACK RICHARDS
Position: Attack/Midfield
Height/Weight: 6-2 // 180
Hometown: Reading, Mass.
High School: Austin Prep
Club Team: HGR Lacrosse
Major: Criminal Justice
About Richards: Attends Austin Prep School where he has been a three-year letterwinner in lacrosse … Twice named a Central Catholic League all-conference first team selection … Three-time CCL All-Star … Has helped team win two league titles as a sophomore and junior … Team also won D3 North title as a junior … Has totaled nearly 150 goals and over 200 points through three seasons at Austin Prep … Born June 10, 2001 … Son of Liz and Mark … Brother to Annie and Ellie … Plans to major in Criminal Justice.
Morgan on Richards: "Jack has a very good and polished all-around game. He has the ability to beat you from the outside and also has great hands inside. Jack is very slick in his dodging ability and has the ability to see through the defense for assists."
MAX STRENG
Position: Defense
Height/Weight: 6-2 // 185
Hometown: Middleton, Mass.
High School: Masconomet Regional
Prep Team: MXB Middlesex Bears
Club Team: 3D Lacrosse
Major: Communications
About Streng: Graduated from Masconomet Regional High School and will play for MXB Middlesex Bears Prep this year … Two-time Cape Ann League All-Conference selection … Recipient of the Coach's Award as a senior … Finished high school career with 75 caused turnovers, 113 ground balls and 13 points (5g, 8a) … Boston Globe Silver Key recipient in photography … Born May 3, 1999 … Son of Melissa and Rudolph … Brother to Maggie, Luke and Lilly … Plans to major in Communications/Media with a minor in Graphic Design.
Morgan on Streng: "Max has a great combination of length and athleticism. He also has a very similar game to past successful Merrimack defensemen, in the sense that he is good off the ground and very good in transition. Max has the ability to match your athleticism, put the ball on the ground when needed and push the other way."
SAM WALSH
Position: Defense
Height/Weight: 6-4 // 200
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: York Community
Club Team: 1223 Lacrosse/Naperville
Major: Business
About Walsh: Attends York Community High School … West Suburban All-Conference First Team honors as a junior … Two-sport starter and captain … Named Team MVP of the lacrosse team as a freshman … Finished with 45 ground balls, 27 caused turnovers and four assists as a junior … Named a Mid-America Invitational All-Star … Has also lettered in basketball … Plays for 12.23 Lacrosse/Naperville club team … Born Nov. 28, 2000 … Son of Cindy and Jeff … Brother to Matt, Charlie and Jessica … Plans to major in business.
Morgan on Walsh: "Sam has an incredible combination of being 6-foot-4 with great feet. He can cover with his length, slick stick and has a great transition game. He can also play a very physical game off the ground and between the lines. Sam has a huge upside with the frame and his skillset that we expect to keep getting better at the next level."
