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Major League Lacrosse Selects Top College Talent in 2004 Draft

June 4, 2004 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release


Boston, MA (June 4, 2004) – Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premiere professional outdoor lacrosse league, conducted the 2004 Collegiate Draft Thursday evening at the Edgerton Performing Arts Center on the campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. Thirty players were picked by the MLL's six teams in the five-round draft.

As expected, the Baltimore Bayhawks selected Syracuse midfielder/attackman Michael Powell with the first overall pick. The Rochester Rattlers added to their depth up front by picking standout attackman Ryan Boyle of Princeton. The Philadelphia Barrage, picking third, chose Tillman Johnson, the All-American goalie from Virginia. The Rattlers, picking for the second time in the first round, followed with midfielder Sean Lindsay, a teammate of Powell's with the 2004 NCAA champion Syracuse Orangemen. The last two picks in the first round were both defensemen from Maryland: Baltimore selected Lee Zink with the fifth pick, and Boston closed out the round by choosing Chris Passavia.

"The Collegiate Draft is always exciting because of the influx of young talent into the MLL," said David Gross, C.O.O. of Major League Lacrosse. "Just look at this year's selections: the first nine picks were All-Americans. Even the last pick of the draft [Washington College midfielder Steve Berger] was a two-time All-American. We look forward to these players delivering high scoring, fast moving, hard-hitting MLL action for years to come."

Other notable picks include attackman Conor Ford, midfielder Walid Hajj and goalie Mike Levin, all taken in the second round on the strength their performances in the Warrior Major League Challenge. Ford, from Johns Hopkins, was taken by Philadelphia with the first pick in the second round (seventh overall). New Jersey selected Hajj next, and Baltimore addressed a need in goal by getting Levin, one of the country's best netminders, with the eleventh overall selection.

Powell had long been considered the top player available in the draft and the Bayhawks made no secret of their intention to pick the two-time Tewaaraton Trophy winner. Powell broke the Syracuse mark for career points with 307, eclipsing the record shared by his older brothers, Ryan and Casey. Both of his brothers are MLL standouts with the Rattlers. The four-time Attackman of the Year and college lacrosse's most creative talent led Syracuse to a national title last weekend.

In Boyle Rochester acquired an attackman who should be able to quickly join their potent attack. The four-time All-American led Princeton in scoring all four of his collegiate seasons. Boyle finished his career with 232 points in just 57 games.

Considered the best senior goalie in the country—if not the best goalie, period—Johnson helped lead Virginia to a national title in 2003. A four-year starter for the Cavaliers, Johnson was named at least an Honorable Mention All-American every year at Virginia. Johnson will have the opportunity to learn under one the MLL's best, Barrage goalie and former MLL Goalie of the Year Greg Cattrano, acquired during this past off-season.

Lindsay gives Rochester yet another offensive weapon. The Syracuse middie scored 29 goals last season for the national champs and tallied 69 total in his career. Lindsay was named a First Team All-American in 2004.

In Zink Baltimore acquired the strong defensive presence it sorely needs this season. The Maryland defenseman uses his size (6'4", 195 lbs.) and reach to smother opponents. He was considered one of the top close-in defenders in the NCAA.

Boston's selection of Passavia adds defensive strength to the league's lone unbeaten team. The Cannons, who are 2-0 but have won both games by just one goal, get a three-time All-American with excellent one-on-one skills. Passavia provides an additional defensive option after the departure of Brian Kuczma, the defensive stalwart Boston traded to Philadelphia in the off-season.

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 enters this season with teams in Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, (Montclair) New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester. The 2004 MLL season began on Saturday, May 22 and concludes with the New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend, Thursday, August 19 and Sunday, August 22. Additional league information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.

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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.


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