Riptide Select Five Players In 2007 MLL Collegiate Draft
June 1, 2007 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Los Angeles Riptide News Release
CARSON, CALIFORNIA - Friday, June 1, 2007 - The Los Angeles Riptide on Thursday evening selected five players - four midfielders and one defenseman - in the 2007 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft held at Stony Brook University in New York, the team announced today.
With the sixth overall pick in the first-round, the Riptide selected Greg Downing, a stand-out midfielder from Fairfield University. The 6-1, 185-pound native of Auburn, New York, became the first Stag in program history to be selected in the MLL Collegiate Draft. Downing is the Stags only multi-time All-America selection, earning Honorable Mention accolades each of the last four years. He finished his career with 101 goals, fourth all-time, having scored 20 or more goals in each of his four seasons. He ranks among the top-10 in Fairfield history with 141 points and 40 career assists.
Cornell University defenseman Mitch Belisle, the USILA's Schmeisser Cup winner as the nation's most outstanding defenseman, was taken as the Riptide's first selection in the second-round (12th overall). A first-team All-America selection this past season, the 5-10, 190-pound native of Brewster, New York, led the fifth-best defense in the nation as he routinely covered the opposition's most dangerous offensive threat. A two-time First-Team All-Ivy pick, Belisle has started every game for the past three seasons and has averaged 34 ground balls per season, including 42 this year. Belisle will join former Big Red teammate Justin Redd (Cornell '05) as a member of the Riptide.
With their second pick in the second-round (17th overall), the Riptide selected Brown University midfielder Alex Buckley. A 2007 All-Ivy and All-New England selection, the 6-1, 180-pound native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, was one of just two players to start all 14 games for the Bears, and ranked third on the team in scoring, netting 12 goals and a team-leading 15 assists. Buckley, whose four goals against University of Maryland Baltimore City equaled his career scoring high, finished his Brown career with 48 goals.
The Riptide selected Julian Watts, a midfielder out of Hofstra University, as their fourth-round selection (36th overall). The 6-2, 205-pound native of Huntington, New York, served as the Pride's quad-captain during the 2007 season. Watts finished his collegiate career with two goals, two points and 70 groundballs in 60 games for Hofstra.
The Riptide selected University of Maryland midfielder and 2007 team captain Jimmy Borell with their fourth-round pick (46th overall). The 6-0, 175-pound native of Burke, Virginia, appeared in 10 games for the Terps in his senior campaign and collected three goals, three points, and 26 groundballs. Known as one of the team's best all-around athletes with fantastic speed and a leader on and off the field, Borell won Maryland's 2005 Hammer Award as the team's biggest hitter.
The Riptide will return to action tomorrow (Saturday), June 2, when they travel east to play the Boston Cannons. Game time is set for 4 p.m. Pacific.
The Riptide's next home game is set for Saturday, June 23 versus the Chicago Machine at The Home Depot Center, with the game scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Individual tickets to see the Riptide this summer at Home Depot Center are on sale now with tickets starting at $18 for general admission. Season tickets are also available. For more information, visit LARIPTIDE.COM or call 1-866-4-LAX-TIX.
2007 L.A. RIPTIDE SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time (PT), Result
Saturday, May 19, @ Chicago Machine, 5:00 PM, 20-14, Win
Sunday, May 27, New Jersey Pride, 7:00 PM, 15-9, Win
Saturday, June 2, @ Boston Cannons, 4:00 PM
Saturday, June 9, @ Denver Outlaws, 5:00 PM
Saturday, June 16, @ San Francisco Dragons, 1:00 PM
Saturday, June 23, Chicago Machine, 5:00 PM
Saturday, June 30, San Francisco Dragons, 5:00 PM
Saturday, July 14, Denver Outlaws, 5:00 PM
Saturday, July 21, @ Washington Bayhawks, 1:00 PM
Saturday, July 28, San Francisco Dragons, 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 4, @ Denver Outlaws, 5:00 PM
Saturday, August 11, Chicago Machine, 4:00 PM
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 1, 2007
- Riptide Aim To Increase Win Streak - Los Angeles Riptide
- Dragons Score Big in 2007 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft - San Francisco Dragons
- Riptide Select Five Players In 2007 MLL Collegiate Draft - Los Angeles Riptide
- Outlaws Acquire Five in 2007 College Draft - Denver Outlaws
- Lizards Draft Results - New York Lizards
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