LoCascio to Enter National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Published on November 19, 2004 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
Boston, MA (November 19, 2004) - Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premiere professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced today that former Philadelphia Barrage head coach Sal LoCascio will be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 20. LoCascio, who led the Barrage to their first Major League Lacrosse title in 2004, will be inducted with nine others at a formal ceremony in Hunt Valley, Md.
"I'm honored and privileged to be inducted in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame," said LoCascio. "I have a lot of memorable lacrosse experiences, not the least of which was this past summer with the Barrage. To be recognized for induction into the Hall of Fame, it simply caps a wonderful year. I'm very grateful."
"This is certainly a well-deserved honor," said MLL Commissioner David Gross. "Sal has made a tremendous contribution to the MLL and the game of lacrosse as both a player and a coach. The entire league extends our heartfelt congratulations and appreciation."
The 2004 season was LoCascio's third and most successful campaign as the Barrage's head coach. Philadelphia closed the regular season with five consecutive wins to finish 7-5 and secure the organization's first playoff berth. An overtime victory over the National Division champion Rochester Rattlers in the semifinal earned them a spot in the New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship Game against the Boston Cannons. LoCascio and the Barrage wrapped up the title with a 13-11 victory in front of an MLL postseason-record crowd at Nickerson Field in Boston.
Ironically, Philadelphia's season turned around shortly after it was announced on June 23 that LoCascio was selected to enter the Hall of Fame. The Barrage were 1-4 at the time of the announcement, then split a pair of games against the Rattlers and Cannons over the next two weeks. From that moment on the Barrage didn't lose, running off seven straight victories in the regular season and playoffs to win their first MLL title.
The MLL crown was nothing new for LoCascio, who began his MLL career in net for the Long Island Lizards. He spent one season as a Lizards netminder, guiding Long Island to the inaugural Major League Lacrosse Championship in 2001.
LoCascio, who gained fame as one of the greatest goalies the game of lacrosse has ever seen, was a four-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts from 1986 to 1989. At UMass, he registered the four best single-season totals for saves and he still holds records for saves in a season and a career. LoCascio then backstopped Team USA to wins at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 International Lacrosse Federation World Championships. In fact, he was named the MVP of the 1990 World Championships in Perth, Australia, and the outstanding goalie at the 1994 World Championships in Manchester, England.
LoCascio also dominated at the club level, leading Long Island Hofstra to four United States Club Lacrosse Association (USCLA) championships. In 1995, he was named USCLA Most Valuable Player.
Major League Lacrosse, a six-team professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded in 1999 by fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Global L.L.C., and partners Dave Morrow, a former champion lacrosse player and now CEO of Warrior Lacrosse, a leading global provider of innovative and high performance lacrosse equipment; and Timothy B. Robertson, former CEO of The Family Channel and the current chairman of Bay Shore Enterprises, L.L.C., an investment holding company with activities in international media and Internet technology ventures. The MLL commenced play in June of 2001 and has teams in Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, (Montclair) New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester. The 2004 MLL season concluded with the Philadelphia Barrage winning the New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship Game on Sunday, August 22 at Nickerson Field in Boston, Mass. The 2005 season is slated to begin the weekend of May 20-22, 2005. Additional league information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from November 19, 2004
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