Philadelphia Barrage get pair in trade immediately following draft
June 4, 2004 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Philadelphia Barrage News Release
Fairfield, CT (June4, 2004)- Long after players and teams had left Sacred Heart University, Sal LoCascio and Rochester's BJ O'Hara were still hard at work finishing their 2004 Collegiate Drafts. After the negations were finished, the Barrage went home with Rochester's Ryan Boyle while the Rattlers took home Tillman Johnson.
The Barrage started the evening selecting Tillman Johnson with the third overall pick in the draft. A questionable move to many in the room as the Barrage already possesses one of the top goalies in the league, Greg Cattrano. Sal LoCascio, the head coach of the Barrage, gave a simple explination, "We wanted to take the best available player in the draft." Johnson, although a tough 2004 season, is still regarded as the top senior goaltender in lacrosse, a thought that never escaped the minds of the Rochester staff.
"This is a trade that works well for both teams," Rochester's coach BJ O'Hara explained. "We get a Goalie who now has an opportunity to become a starter, and Philadelphia gains a very good attackman.
Ryan Boyle, a four-time All-American for the Princeton Tigers, was selected to first team this past season recording 23 goals and 44 assists in 14 games. Overall throughout his career with the Tigers, he tallied 70 goals, 162 assists with a total of 232 points. At the end of four years, he finished as only the second player in Princeton history to lead the team in scoring all four seasons.
As a freshman, Boyle was named league Rookie of the Year in 2001. He was selected as Ivy League Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004, and was First Team All-American in 2003-04. He was also a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the player of the year, in 2003 and 2004. In addition to all these awards, he was also won the Roper Trophy (Ivy League player of the year) twice, becoming the second player in Ivy League history to win this prestigious award twice. In the Princeton team rankings, he is second in the all-time scoring and assist category, and was a hands down pick for the First Team All-Ivy League selection three consecutive seasons in a row (2002-04).
The Barrage will be without the services of Boyle for a couple of weeks while he fulfills his obligation and plays in Japan with his Princeton team.
Not lost in the trade is Philadelphia's acquisition of Rochester's midfielder Mike Mollot. Mollot was a 21-point (29 g, 9a) scorer for Rochester in 2003. This season, he currently has 1 goal and two assists in two games. Mollot is expected to step right in to help improve the Barrage midfield line.
After the trade with Rochester, the Barrage still have four of their 2004 Collegiate Draft Selections: Johns Hopkins Attackman Conor Ford, Towson Faceoff Midfielder Ben DeFelice, Ohio State Defenseman Greg Bice, and Cortland Midfielder Andrew Roth.
Ford, Philadelphia's first selection in the 2nd Round (7th overall), led Johns Hopkins with 44 goals and 9 assists. He scored 160 points in his four-year career at Hopkins registering 101 goals. Ford returned to his natural position of attack, after spending his sophomore and junior season on the Blue Jays top midfield line.
Defelice was one of the top faceoff specialists in the country while with Towson University. He won just over 65% (198-304) of his faceoffs this past season. Defelice also managed 12 goals and 8 assists on the season, proving he can find the back of the net after he gains control of the draw.
Bice becomes the first native Texan (Helotes, TX) drafted into Major League Lacrosse. The 6'3'' 200 lb. Defenseman led Ohio State with 65 ground balls on the season. Bice is a three-time All-GWLL first team honoree. This season he was named a second team All-American.
Roth finished fourth on his Cortland team in scoring with 41 points (31g, 10a) in 2004. His accomplishments this past season earned him a place on the Division III men's All American team. Roth led Cortland with 8 man-up goals on the season.
The Barrage expects to dress at least one of their draft picks this weekend against the Long Island Lizards. For more information, call the Barrage PR Director, Katie Komlo at 888-450-7802 (ext.707).
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