Hamilton Takes a Tiger in First Round
Published on January 13, 2012 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
(Hamilton)... The Hamilton Nationals selected defenseman Chad Wiedmaier from Princeton University with the seven overall pick tonight at the 2012 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft. The Nats also selected Peterborough's Brock Sorensen, Stoney Creek's Kiel Matisz and Brampton Excelsior Joe Resetarits.
"We are very pleased that Chad was available at No. 7," said Nationals General Manager Jody Gage. "You take the best player available and defense was the biggest hole that we wanted to fill."
Wiedmaier, 21, is a three-time All-American and a three-time All-Ivy selection. The Chatham, NJ, native is trying to become the first Princeton player ever to earn First Team All-Ivy League four times. As a testament to his defensive ability, he has played against Cornell's Rob Pannell, the Division I Player of the Year and the No. 1 overall pick tonight, five times and has held him to four goals on 44 shots.
The Nationals picked midfielder Jake Bernhardt from the University of Maryland with the 12th overall pick (second round). In 51 games with the Terps, he scored 32 goals and added seven assists. Bernhardt netted one goal against Virginia in the 2011 NCAA championship game. In 2010, he was the winner of the William Cole Award as the team's best overall midfielder.
In the third round, Hamilton took attackman Jack McBride with the 23rd overall pick. The Madison, NJ, native transferred to the University of North Carolina after finishing his Princeton career with 90 goals and 25 assists for 115 points. He ended his Princeton career 15th in goals and 21st in points. McBride was a two-time All-Ivy League selection and a two-time All-American.
In the fourth round (31st overall), the Nationals drafted their second defenseman by selecting Matt Lovejoy from the University of Virginia. He has appeared in 41 games for the Cavaliers and recorded 59 ground balls. The native of Orford, NH, was a member of Virginia's 2011 national championship team.
Hamilton selected a Mann Cup champion in the fifth round (39th overall) by taking Joe Resetarits. The University of Albany attackman played for the Brampton Excelsiors in 2011. Resetarits, a two-time first-team All-America East Conference standout, led the Great Danes with 31 goals and 13 assists last season. The Hamburg, NY, native was fourth in the league in both goals and scoring in 2011. Resetarits has 103 career points (78 goals, 25 assists) and has the nation's longest active goal-scoring streak at 33 consecutive games.
With the 47th overall pick, the Nats went "local" by drafting defenseman Brock Sorensen. He enters his second year as a team captain from the Ohio State University Buckeyes. Sorensen has played in 43 games and registered 10 goals, three assists, 13 points and 49 groundballs, along with 18 caused turnovers.
In the seventh round (55th overall), Hamilton took Kiel Matisz. The midfielder played all 15 games for Robert Morris and collected 36 points (16 +20). He led the Colonials in assists and was third in points last season. Recently named a team captain, Matisz is a two-time All-NEC First Team selection. In 46 career games, he has compiled 54 goals and 48 assists. He enters his senior season ranked fifth all-time at Robert Morris in points and is tied for third in assists.
The Nationals' last pick was Gerry Reilly from Georgetown University with the 63rd overall selection (eighth round). In 2011, the short stick defensive midfielder finished fourth on the team with 32 ground balls. The 2012 team captain finished last season with five goals, including a game-tying goal with five seconds left against No. 1 Syracuse at the Konica-Minolta Face-Off Classic. In his career, Reilly has eight goals and 45 career ground balls.
The 12th Collegiate Draft in MLL history headlined the 2012 US Lacrosse National Convention at the Marriott Liberty Ballroom in Philadelphia. The Long Island Lizards opened the draft by taking Pannell from Cornell University first overall.
The Nationals will open the 2012 season against the Denver Outlaws, on Saturday, May 5th at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Hamilton makes its home debut on Friday, May 18th with an 11:00 a.m. contest against the Chesapeake Bayhawks at Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University. For ticket information, contact the Nationals Ticket Office at (905) 768-2225.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from January 13, 2012
- Boston Cannons Bolster Attack and Defense in 2012 Collegiate Draft - Boston Cannons
- Hamilton Takes a Tiger in First Round - Hamilton Nationals
- BayHawks Strengthen Transition Game with Costabile as First Pick - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- Hamilton Takes a Tiger in First Round of MLL Collegiate Draft - Hamilton Nationals
- Nationals' Draft Day Memories - Hamilton Nationals
- MLL Collegiate Draft Hours Away - MLL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
