Pride Round Out Roster in 2007 Supplemental Draft

December 5, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
New Jersey Pride News Release


CLIFTON - The New Jersey Pride brought its preseason roster for the 2007 season up to 30 after the Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft, a 10-round foray that was conducted by league executives via conference call on Tuesday.

The Pride acquired Matt Rewkowski from Denver for their first round selection, (5th overall) Paul Gillette. A midfielder from Johns Hopkins, Rewkowski played in 11 games in 2006 for the Outlaws, scoring 11 goals, handing out 12 assists and picking up nine ground balls.

"We like that acquiring Matt gives us another player who has significant experience in the league, who has played with a lot of the guys on our team and who we feel has a real shot to contribute to the success of our team,'' said Pride General Manager Trey Reeder. "He is a proven scorer, but he isn't a one dimensional guy.''

In the second round, the Pride selected Michael Abou Jaoude, a defender from Bucknell, and followed that with former Princeton defender Oliver Barry and long pole Zach Burke, a University of Maryland-Baltimore County graduate in the third and fourth rounds.

With the team's fifth-round pick, New Jersey acquired Chris Cercy with the 45th overall selection. Cercy was one of the top three players in terms of face-off winning percentage in the MLL in 2006. After selecting former Cornell defensive midfielder Ian Rosenberger in the sixth round, the Pride selected Rob Parengkuan, a do-it-all midfielder that was with the team for five games in 2006. Parengkuan was plucked from the Pride practice squad by the Boston Cannons midseason.

"Being able to get Rob back was a real positive for us,'' Reeder said. "He is a great teammate, and it was unfortunate to lose him during the season last year. I am actually pretty shocked that he fell as far down in the draft as he did.''

In Round 7, the Pride made a family connection, reuniting New Jersey midfielder Adam Doneger with his brother Jason, a former Princeton attackman who was selected with the 65th overall pick. Doneger spent time over the past two seasons with the Rochester Rattlers and Long Island Lizards.

"That's just a great thing to have,'' Reeder said, "is instant chemistry. Adam is one of the best character guys in the league, and to add Jason in there is another great fit for our team.''

In the final two rounds, New Jersey selected a pair of veterans in Mike Regan and Greg Cattrano who are mulling retirement. Should either or both decide to play in 2007, they are considered steals at their respective draft slots.

"They were a reach, no doubt,'' Reeder said. "But in there you have an experienced midfielder, and the most decorated goalie in MLL history. If April rolls around and either of those guys say, 'You know what, I think I want to give it one more season,' we're in great shape.''

Cattrano has won the MLL Championship with Baltimore and Philadelphia, and took Long Island to the title game in 2005. Prior to 2006, Cattrano had started the MLL Championship game for one of the competing teams in every year of the league's history.

Regan, one of the top outside shooters in MLL history, has scored 85 goals and added 25 assists in 58 career games for Rochester and Boston, but more importantly has 26, 2-point goals.

The Pride will open training camp on April 28, with the season opening three weeks later. Season tickets for the 2007 Pride season are now available and can be purchased by calling 973-614-1792.



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