28 Ontario LACROSSE | Spring 2009

n athletic scholarship to a UnitedStates college is something few

Canadians are offered — regardlessof the sport they play. Whether it is basketball,football, hockey, soccer, baseball or swimming,just to name a few, the number of Canadianstoiling in Division 1(D1) — or even Division 2 or 3 — athletics south of the border is reallyminute when one looks at the full scope andsize of U.S. college sports.

Lacrosse is no different than those othersports, but because of the high quality of play inOntario and throughout Canada, many up-and-coming lacrosse stars are jumping at the chanceto play at a U.S. college, while receiving a free orpartially paid for education while doing so.

One such player is Alison Daley, who suitsup for Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. The 20-year-old goalkeeper from Peterborough, Ont., isenjoying her second year playing D1 lacrosseand is really making a name for her self. After a2008 season in which she started all 18 games,posted a goals against average of 11.99, and wastwice named MAAC Defensive Player of theWeek, Daley is off to a good sophomore seasonboasting a 6-6 record in league play this year.

Although she is enjoying her experience atCanisius, Daley does encourage young girls com-ing across the border to play lacrosse to keep inmind several important items.

“Besides just looking at the lacrosse side ofthings, make sure that everything you are look-ing for academically is there,” says the formercaptain of the Kawartha Lacrosse Club. “Ulti-mately, once your four years are done at college,there is nothing left for women’s lacrosse, soyou want to come out with a solid education.”

This sentiment was echoed by team mate,Carley Quinn, while en route to a game earlierthis season.

“Young girls really need to decide whetherthey want to play Division 1, 2 or 3 lacrosse,”

Heading

SOUTHRECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP

AND PLAYING LACROSSE AT

A U.S. COLLEGE IS A GREAT

ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT

THE CHALLENGE OF

MAINTAINING HIGH

GRADES, WHILE KEEPING

UP WITH A DEMANDING

LACROSSE SCHEDULE, IS

NOT ALWAYS AN EASY TASK

A

// By Ryan McLean

Alison Daley, Canisius College

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29www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com Spring 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE

adds the 19-year-old Orangeville native.“One of my friends is in a Division 3 pro-gram and they don’t practice nearly asmuch as we do. You need to decidewhether you want to do it, because onceyou do, lacrosse becomes a full-time com-mitment.”

Quinn, a member of the Under-19Canadian National Team that finishedfourth at the 2007 Junior World Cup, isalso in her sophomore season at Cani-sius. Her freshman season saw herrecord seven goals and eight assists.

At U.S. colleges, men’s lacrosse is nodifferent than the women’s game forthere are no free passes when trying tomaintain high grades, while keeping upwith a demanding lacrosse schedule. Timemanagement becomes a saving grace fordealing with the stresses that come withthe new lifestyle, says Stoney Creek nativeKiel Matisz, who is currently enjoyinghis first season with Robert Morris Uni-versity in Moon Township, Pa., locatedjust outside of Pittsburgh.

The 19-year-old midfielder describesthe life of a university student as long anddedicated. Besides scoring eight goals andtallying 14 points in his first 12 games for

the Colonials in this his fresh-man season, Matisz is work-ing hard to maintain a 3.0grade point average, which heneeds in order to meet his ac-ademic scholarship require-ments.

“Generally, my dailyschedule goes from 8 a.m., till9 p.m.,” he says. “Eight tillnoon is class, and then 12 till5 p.m., is lacrosse. In addi-tion, in first semester, it’smandatory that freshmen at-tend study hall for threehours every other day. During

the season, we watch films after 5 p.m., and thendo homework. There is not a whole lot of timeto have to yourself, so you just prepare and usetime management to deal with it.”

If all this isn’t enough for student-ath-letes, Ontario players have to adjust to play-ing a new style of lacrosse. Matisz’s coach,Kenneth “Bear” Davis, understands the dif-ference in styles amongst box lacrosse, playedprimarily in Canada, and field, most popularin the U.S. He also has a great deal of confi-dence in Ontario players coming across theborder and playing what is for some an en-tirely different sport.

“With these guys having such little fieldlacrosse experience, our thought process was

we knew it would be a learning curve; itwas just how quick can they pick it up,”he says. “How quick can they apply theirbox skills to the field game and under-stand it? With our past experience withCanadian guys, we knew it took about afull year to really understand the fieldgame and apply the skills.”

Relatively new to field lacrosse, KyleBuchanan, a 21-year-old freshman atRobert Morris, knew he could play a leadership role, despite having to learn a new system.

“I never really played field lacrosseuntil I came here,” says Buchanan, orig-inally from of Nepean, Ont. “I wantedto be a leader since I’ve played withsome really good box teams. I wantedto learn the system and get a feel forthe game and hopefully play in thespringtime. Field is a lot of more sys-tematic, where as box, it is a more run-and-gun style.”

Carley Quinn, Canisius College

Kiel Matisz,, Robert Morris University

Kyle Buchanan, Robert Morris University

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30 Ontario LACROSSE | Spring 2009

PLAYER COLLEGE HOMETOWN LEVEL

Aaron Fill Becker Ladner D3

Adam Jones Canisius Owen Sound D1

Aidan Genik Hartford Toronto D1

Alex Crepinsek RIT Oakville D3

Andrew Stoner Lycoming Orangeville D3

Andrew Suitor Adrian Orangeville D3

Anthony Lackey Whittier Orangeville D3

Austin Thomas Bryant Mississauga D1

Ben McCullough Potsdam Brampton D3

Brad Levick Elmira Newmarket D3

Braden Artem Catawba Acton D2

Brandon Ree St Andrews Barrie D2

Brock Sorenson Ohio State Peterborough D1

Bryan Neufeld Siena Virgil/Niagra D1

Cade Zulak Mars Hill Ajax D2

Carter Bender Hartford Caledon D1

Chad Howson Mars Hill Newmarket D2

Chris Cudmore Mars Hill Whitby D2

Clark De Geer Hartford Orangeville D1

Cody Jamieson Syracuse Six Nations D1

Corey Small Albany St Catherines D1

Cory Upshaw Notre Dame De Namur Orono D2

Dan Coates Canisius St Catherines D1

Dan MacCrae RIT Oakville D3

Dan MacIssac American International Port Perry D2

Dave Brock Albany Burlington D1

Dave Morton Robert Morris Orangeville D1

David Hodgins Mars Hill Windsor D2

Derek Hopcroft Bellarmine Toronto D1

DJ Clevely Adrian Orangeville D3

Eric Benesch Mars Hill Bloomingdale D2

Eric Hubert Adrian Mississauga D3

Eric Whettell American International La Salle D2

Evan Kirk Hobart Orangeville D1

Garett Ince Virginia Oakville D1

Garett Kerr Quinnipiac Caledon D1

Graham Bergsma Fairfield St Catherines D1

Grant Gosselin University of New England Beaconsfield D3

Greg Miceli Stony Brook King City D1

Greg Norris Susquehanna St Catherines D3

J.A. MacDougall Mercyhurst Brantford D2

Jaime Lincoln Denver St Catherines D1

Jay Card Hofstra Caledon D1

Jeff Ivey Adrian Orangeville D3

Jesse Fehr Harvard Calgary D1

Jesse Gamble Cornell Rockwood D1

PLAYER COLLEGE HOMETOWN LEVEL

Joe Stanley Potsdam Lakefield D3

John McClure Dowling Brampton D2

Jonathan Thomson Cornell Orangeville D1

Jordan Joncas Potsdam Kanata D3

Jordan MacIntosh Gordon Oakville D3

Jordan Sealock Robert Morris Airdrie D1

Josh Gillam Dartmouth Peterborough D1

Kevin Brownell Robert Morris Burlington D1

Kevins Woods Mars Hill Newmarket D2

Kiel Matisz Robert Morris Stoney Creek D1

Kris Clement Oswego Pierrefonds D3

Kyle Bergman Drexel Toronto D1

Kyle Buchanan Robert Morris Nepean D1

Kyle Kallay Mercyhurst Orangeville D2

Kyle O'Brien Dowling Whitby D2

Kyle Rubisch Dowling Brampton D2

Mark Matthews Denver Oshawa D1

Matt Bertrand Seton Hill Oakville D2

Matt Campbell Bellarmine Orangeville D1

Matt McMurray Gettysburg Orangeville D3

Matt Quinton Roanoke Elora D3

Michael Cudmore Hartford Ashburn D1

Michael Howe Cornell St Catherines D1

Mike Jacques Wheeling Jesuit Sarnia D2

Mike Pantelone Neumann Aurora D3

Mike Pires Ohio State Saanichton D1

Mitch Barnard St. Andrews Barrie D2

Mitch McMichael Cornell Port Perry D1

MJ Kiekebelt RIT Caledon D3

Nick Diachenko Delaware Courtice D1

Rick Acorn Elmira Barrie D3

Robert Koger Georgetown Toronto D1

Ryan McClelland Colgate Brampton D1

Scott Gamble Elmira Toronto D3

Sean Gilles RIT Oakville D3

Sid Smith Syracuse Ohsweken D1

Stephan LeBlanc Queens/NC Restoule D2

Stephen Keogh Syracuse Toronto D1

T.J. Cook Adrian Caledon D3

Todd Hosmer Potsdam Scarborough D3

Travis Gibbons Canisius Owen Sound D1

Trevor Veres Wheeling Jesuit Windsor D2

Tyler Burton Mercyhurst London D2

Tyler Collins Colgate Toronto D1

Tyler Douglas Dominican College St Albert D2

Zack Greer Bryant Whitby D1

MALE DOMINANCEHere's just a sample of the Ontario men currently playing NCAA lacrosse.

31www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com Spring 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE

Another U.S. school that hasn’t shied away from recruiting Ontarioborn players is the University of Hartford. Aidan Genik and CarterBender have both adjusted well to their new scenery and their coach,Peter Lawrence, is happy they came.

“I think it’s fair to say, they have exceeded expectations. Both Carterand Aidan are capable of being all rookie team, possibly all conferenceguys, even this year as freshmen,” says Lawrence. “Even as freshmenthey have taken leadership roles. We count on them for us to have suc-cess. The expectations will only get higher every year they are here.”

Through the Hawks’ first nine games this season, Genik was tiedfor the team’s lead in points, with 19, while Bender was hot on his tail,just one point behind him.

Genik is no stranger to success. In 2005, he played for the Edge OntarioSelects squad that went undefeated; a year later he helped the Ontarioteam win the Brogden Cup and then in 2007, he won the U-19 NationalLacrosse Championship. The Toronto native says he found his way to theUniversity of Hartford after playing a tournament in the area, in which theschool’s men’s lacrosse coaches saw him play, showed some interest in himand eventually offered him a scholarship, one he couldn’t refuse.

“It’s been a different experience for me. Here it’s a more catch-and-shoot style of play,” says the 20-year-old attacker. “The American styleis much more technical. Back home, you had a few plays, but mainly youjust went to the net to make something happen, but here it’s a lot moreset. The speed of the game is faster since you only have 20 seconds to getit over the half when you’re clearing it and then another 10 seconds toget it in the box. Where as international rules you can take as long as youwant. Plus, the collegiate level is more athletic and the defenders inAmerica are a lot better.” Aidan Genik, University of Hartford

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32 Ontario LACROSSE | Spring 2009

PLAYER COLLEGE HOMETOWN LEVEL

Alana Chan George Mason Lakefield D1

Alison Rusak Canisius Orangeville D1

Allison Daley Canisius Peterborough D1

Ally Phillips Notre Dame College (OH) St. Catherine's D2

Amanda Jones Belmont Abbey Owen Sound D2

Ashley Curtis Niagara Peterborough D1

Ashley Rutz La Salle Milton D1

Awehiyo Thomas Canisius Ohsweken D1

Brianna Robertson Lycoming Brechin D3

Britt Farquharson UC Davis Mississauga D1

Brittany Kovacs St. Francis Oshawa D1

Cara Dadswell Belmont Abbey Port Elgin D2

Carly Quinn Canisius Orangeville D1

Christine Comeau Longwood Whitby D1

Claire Conrad Slippery Rock Guelph D2

Corina Mahorn Detroit Mercy Whitby D1

Dana Dobbie Maryland Guelph D1

Dana Funkenhauser Adrian Windsor D3

Desiree Dabrowski Long Island Orangeville D1

Emily Boissonneault Detroit Mercy Brooklin D1

Emily Watterson St. Francis Whitby D1

Erin Roach Adrian Windsor D3

Gena McPherson Notre Dame (OH) Brampton D2

Hillary Neale Adrian Mississauga D3

Jalene McCulloch Elmira Belleville D3

Janaye Dzikewich Louisville Whitby D1

Jayme Beard Ohio State Hawkestone D1

Jennie Greenlee Neumann Burlington D3

Jennifer Morse Notre Dame (OH) Brampton D2

Kallie Briscoe Hamilton Orangeville D3

Katie Illiott Limestone Whitby D2

Katie Smith Syracuse Ohsweken D1

Katrina Rabishaw Adrian Sharon D3

Kayla Dubowski Neumann Emeryville D3

Kristen Millar Vermont Whitby D1

Kristie Jennings Mercyhurst Whitby D2

Lauren Martin Lees-McRae Whitby D2

Lisa Ryan Converse Burlington D2

Megan Austriaco Adrian Rockwood D3

Megan Oosting Canisius Buckthorn D1

Melissa Nakasuji Limestone Ajax D2

Natasha Blackburn Ohio State Mississauga D1

Nicole Alexopoulos Neumann King City D3

Paige Mason Roanoke Orangeville D3

Rachel Johnston Adrian St Catharines D3

Sierra Smith-Hart Louisville Whitby D1

GIRL POWERHere's just a sample of the Ontario women

currently playing NCAA lacrosse.

As for Bender, his lacrosse résumé is also littered with success. The 20-year-old, 6'3" attacker played for the Ontario Edge Seniors team in 2006 that wentundefeated in 30 games in the U.S. and won the NDP National Tournament ofChampions.

“This is my first spring here and I like it a lot,” says the Caledon, Ont., na-tive. “It was kind of hard to step in as a freshman, but we have a lot of goodyoung guys coming here and we are trying to turn things around, especiallythe reputation of the program, to a more elite team. The team is coming to-gether. We had a few close games, but we are starting to gel more now andI think we can put it together. As a team we need to do the little things.”

There is no doubt the level of play in U.S. college lacrosse is helped by thepresence of Ontario-born players (see page 30) bringing their skills, desireand dedication to their respective teams.

However, most U.S. college players from Canada echo the same advice tothe future generation of lacrosse stars looking to make the transition: getyour name out there, play in as many tournaments as possible and activelypursue the head coaches of the schools by letting them know when you arecoming to a tournament in their area, and that you are interested in the pos-sibility of attending their honoured institution as a student-athlete.

Ryan McLean is a freelance writer in Calgary, Alta.

Carter Bender, University of Hartford

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