BayHawks Add Eight in the 2014 MLL Collegiate Draft
January 10, 2014 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) added eight in the 2014 MLL Collegiate Draft on Friday, January 10th. Head coach Dave Cottle focused mostly on the defense with Mike Harris as their first selection in the 3rd round (21st overall). The Collegiate Draft was held at the Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and boasted appearances by many MLL stand-outs, including Bayhawks' veteran defensemen Mike Evans and Brian Spallina.
Harris, a Buffalo Grove, IL native, is tied for third on the Syracuse University career list with 47 caused turnovers. In his junior year he was named to the All-BIG East Second Team and led the Orange in caused turnovers with 29 and ground balls with 52. The long stick defensive midfielder tallied 109 ground balls during his 53 game career with Syracuse.
With the second pick, 24th overall, the Bayhawks selected face-off specialist Dylan Levings from Yale. In his junior year, Levings was named to the Second Team All-New England and the Ivy League Tournament MVP. The Massapequa, NY native boasted a .629 face-off win percentage and collected 106 ground balls during his three years with the Bulldogs.
Another long stick defensive midfielder, Pat Kiernan, was selected in the 5th round with the 35th pick overall. A Navy record holder for career caused turnovers, Kiernan was selected to the First-Team All-Patriot League. Throughout his career with the Midshipmen, Kiernan tallied 139 ground balls and is currently tied for 9th on the Division 1 active long pole career scoring list with 12 points (9 goals, 3 assists).
Chesapeake changed it up with the 36th pick overall (5th round) and selected attackman Alex Love from Hobart. Love hails from Geneva, NY and tallied 55 points on 45 goals and 10 assists his junior year. He was also in consideration for the 2013 Tewaarton Award.
For their last pick in the 5th round, Chesapeake chose another attackman, Brandon Benn. The Johns Hopkins stand-out from Orangeville, Ontario has scored at least one goal in 26 of 28 games he has played in since the start of the 2012 season. Benn recorded 78 points on 69 goals and 9 assists over the last three years with the Blue Jays.
In the 6th round (the Bayhawks continued to bolster their attack position with Kevin Cernuto from St. John's. Originally from Neshanic Station, NJ, Cernuto was a unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST selection and averaged 3.69 points a game his junior year. He also tallied 32 goals and 16 assists for 48 points, adding 35 groundballs and seven forced turnovers that year.
University of North Carolina's short stick defensive midfielder Mark McNeill was selected with the 50th pick overall (7th round). McNeill recorded 20 ground balls his junior year and was a three-time returning letter winner for the Tar Heels.
University of Maryland short stick defensive midfielder Brian Cooper was selected with the last pick in the 2014 Collegiate Draft (80th pick overall, 8th round). During his career with the Terrapins the Crofton, MD native tallied 46 ground balls.
"I am excited about our draft picks," Cottle said. "I look forward to seeing how they enhance our team this season."
For the Bayhawks Full Roster, see their website at www.thebayhawks.com.
The Bayhawks 2014 Season Tickets are now available and can be purchased over the phone by calling the box office 866-99-HAWKS (42957). Visit us at www.thebayhawks.com for the full schedule. This season, the Bayhawks and Lexus are giving away an ES350 to one lucky Season Ticket Holder at the last game of the season. Every Season Ticket purchased will amount to one entry into the giveaway.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from January 10, 2014
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- BayHawks Add Eight in the 2014 MLL Collegiate Draft - Chesapeake Bayhawks
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