Rutgers Men's Lacrosse Announces Recruiting Class
Nov 21 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Seven student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Rutgers men's lacrosse program, head coach Jim Stagnitta announced. The Scarlet Knights will welcome four New Jersey natives and three New Yorkers beginning in the fall of 2007.
"I am extremely pleased with this class of recruits," Stagnitta said. "With this group, we have met our recruiting goals at each position. I consider this to be our third-straight class of high-quality athletes and students. This group will help us continue to move forward in our building process as many of these athletes have the ability to compete right away and will at the very least take our quality of depth to the next level. The Rutgers men's lacrosse program continues to make positive steps and move in the right direction with this class."
The list of seven signees includes: Andrew D'Agostino, a defender from Syracuse, N.Y.; Collin Donahue, an attackman from Syracuse, N.Y.; Kory Kelly, an attackman and midfielder from South Brunswick, N.J.; Chris Mattes, a midfielder and face-off specialist from Westfield, N.J.; Matthew Russell, an attackman and midfielder from Oswego, N.Y.; Brian Shemesh, a midfielder from Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J.; and Steven Watson, a midfielder from New Jersey's Montgomery High School.
Andrew D'Agostino is a 6-2, 190-pound defender from Christian Brothers Academy and hails from Syracuse, N.Y. He was named an alternate to the 2006 Empire State Team and reached the Class B State Finals in 2006. As a junior, he scooped up 103 ground balls, earned All-League honors and was also named a member of the third-team All-Central N.Y. team.
Collin Donahue, a 6-0, 170-pound attackman is also from Syracuse, N.Y., and attends West Genesee High School. He recorded 32 goals and 28 assists during his junior season en route to being named first team All-League. He was also a 2006 Empire State Team alternate, and reached the 2006 New York State Class A Finals. Donahue also excels in the classroom and has earned a place on West Genesee's high honor roll.
Kory Kelly, a 6-5, 205-pound attackman and midfielder will join Rutgers from nearby South Brunswick, N.J. As a freshman at South Brunswick High School, he earned All-State honorable mention, and as a sophomore was named to the All-State second team and the All-Division first team. Kelly missed his junior season due to a knee injury.
Chris Mattes is a 6-2, 180-pound midfielder from Westfield, N.J., who also specializes in face-offs. As a junior at Westfield High School, he posted a 70.1% face-off average and picked up 257 ground balls. For his efforts last season, he earned first team All-Area honors.
Matthew Russell, another New York native, is a 6-3, 195-pound attackman and midfielder at Oswego High School. As a sophomore at Oswego he was named to the All-League third team, and was named to the second team as a junior.
Brian Shemesh is a 6-1, 190-pound midfielder from Immaculata High School (N.J.). He has been named to All-Area, All-League, and All-State first teams during both his sophomore and junior seasons. Shemesh has amassed career 91 goals and 36 assists at Immaculata.
Steven Watson is a 6-1, 170-pound two-sport athlete from Montgomery High School (N.J.). The midfielder has 77 goals and 47 assists to date at Montgomery. He earned first team All-League honors during both his sophomore and junior seasons, and was named team captain for his upcoming senior season. He was also a 2006 Group 2 State Finalist as a junior. Watson is a standout on the football field, as well. The wide receiver holds the school record for receptions and touchdowns and earned first team All-Conference honors as a junior receiver. In addition, he is a four-year honor roll student at Montgomery.
Name Ht. Wt. Pos. High School
Andrew D'Agostino 6-2 190 D Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.)
Collin Donahue 6-0 170 A West Genesee HS (N.Y.)
Kory Kelly 6-5 205 A/M South Brunswick HS (N.J.)
Chris Mattes 6-2 180 M Westfield HS (N.J.)
Matthew Russell 6-3 195 A/M Oswego HS (N.Y.)
Brian Shemesh 6-1 190 M Immaculata HS (N.J.)
Steven Watson 6-1 170 M Montgomery HS (N.J.)
