Widener University | Men's Lacrosse

Men's Lacrosse to Visit No. 12 Denison on Wednesday in NCAA Tournament For the Second Straight Year

5/4/08 -- Widener, champions of the Middle Atlantic Conference for the 11th time in 13 seasons, on Wednesday will play at 12th-ranked Denison in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Tournament for the second consecutive year.

Game time in Granville, OH is 2:00 pm. It is Widener’s seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth straight. The winner faces third-ranked Gettysburg in the second round on Saturday.

The third-seeded Pride (10-7) on Saturday won their fourth consecutive conference title, 10-6 at No. 1 seed Messiah. Senior Brian Stromko (Maplewood, NJ) scored three times and senior goalkeeper Tim Collins (Yorktown Heights, NY) made 12 saves in being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

The victory makes the 2008 seniors the third Widener class to win four MAC titles, joining the 1999 and 2000 seniors. They are the first Widener senior class to compete in four NCAA Tournaments.

After winning at second-seeded Lycoming in the semifinals, this marks the second straight year Widener won two road games in the tournament. Last season, the Pride won at Elizabethtown and Messiah.

Widener is 2-6 in the NCAA Tournament, winning a first-round game each of the last two years. The squad in 2006 notched an 11-9 triumph at Kenyon and last year posted an 8-5 victory at Denison.

Stromko has been a force at attacker this season in being named first team All-MAC, leading the squad with 37 goals and 61 points. Senior Clint Quedenfeld (Chalfont, PA) also named first team all-conference, is second on the squad with 34 goals and 58 points. Luke Weber (Lititz, PA), third for the Pride with 38 points, was tabbed first team All-MAC a third time and fellow senior Chris Matthews (Drexel Hill, PA) was named second team all-league.

Sophomore Nick Politarhos (Ridley, PA) was picked first team All-MAC for a defense that allows only 9.0 goals per game and has yielded fewer than nine in three of the last five outings. Senior defenseman Adam Ardary (Springfield, PA) was named second team all-conference.

Denison (13-2), champions of the North Coast Athletic Conference, has won 10 straight games. Its only losses this season have been to top-ranked Salisbury and then No. 2 Gettysburg.

Luke Weber Named Middle Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete

5/1/08 -- Senior midfielder Luke Weber (Lititz, PA) added another award to his vast collection as he was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete.

The award will be presented next Tuesday during the MAC Presidents’ Luncheon at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Weber has enjoyed another standout season in being named first team All-MAC a third time. He is fifth in the MAC with two game-winning goals, fifth on the team with 17 goals, third with 19 assists, third with 36 points and scored at least two goals five times this season.

It was the latest honor for Weber, who in 2007 was named second team All-MAC, second team CoSIDA Men’s At-Large Academic All-District and a member of the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team. In 2006, he was selected first team All-MAC, Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Lacrosse Performer of the Year and second team CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-District. Weber in 2005 was named MAC Rookie of the Year and first team all-conference.

In his last three seasons, Weber was an Honorable Mention Preseason All-America according to Inside Lacrosse Magazine.

Weber owns a 3.849 GPA in Government & Politics and has been named to the MAC Honor Roll three straight years.

Widener (9-7, 5-2 MAC), the three-time defending league champion, finished the regular season tied for second place. The third-seeded Pride on Saturday upended No. 2 seed Lycoming in the MAC semifinals, improving to 14-2 in conference tournament games.

Widener on Saturday faces No. 1 seed Messiah at 1:00 pm for the conference title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Luke Weber Named First Team All-MAC For Men's Lacrosse a Third Time; Headlines Six for Widener Tabbed All-League

4/30/08 -- Senior midfielder Luke Weber (Lititz, PA) was named first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference for Men’s Lacrosse a third time, one of six for Widener to earn all-league honors.

Senior attacker Brian Stromko (Maplewood, NJ) was picked first team All-MAC a second straight year with senior attacker Clint Quedenfeld (Chalfont, PA) and sophomore defenseman Nick Politarhos (Ridley, PA) also tabbed first team.

Senior defenseman Adam Ardary (Springfield, PA) was named second team all-league for the second time in three years and senior attacker Chris Matthews (Drexel Hill, PA) also was picked second team All-MAC.

Weber enjoyed another standout campaign. He is fifth in the MAC with two game-winning goals, fifth on the team with 15 goals, third with 15 assists, third with 30 points and scored at least two goals four times this season.

In his last three seasons, Weber was an Honorable Mention Preseason All-America according to Inside Lacrosse Magazine.

Stromko once again put forth solid numbers. He is tied for seventh in the league with 29 goals, sixth with 22 assists, tied for fourth with 51 points and first on the team with four man-up goals. The second team all-league pick in 2005 also was a Preseason Honorable Mention All-America this year.

Quedenfeld made the most of his second year with the Pride as he sits sixth in the league with 30 goals, seventh with 21 assists and tied for fourth with 51 points. He also owns an impressive .405 shots percentage.

Politarhos, who was second on the team with 39 ground balls, sparked a defense which permitted just 4.8 goals per game in 15 contests this season. He helped the defense notch five games allowing seven goals or fewer, including three straight, and was one of four for the Pride to start all 15 games.

Ardary also was a catalyst on defense. The 2006 second team all-league pick is fourth on the team with 35 ground balls and third with 30 caused turnovers.

Matthews had another strong year on the frontline. He is fifth for the Pride with 17 goals, fifth with 10 assists and fifth with 27 points.

Widener (8-7, 5-2 MAC), the three-time defending league champion, finished the regular season tied for second place. The Pride are the number three seed and on Wednesday visit second seeded Lycoming in the semifinals. The winner advances to Saturday’s final against either No. 1 seed Messiah or fourth-seeded FDU-Florham.

Men's Lacrosse Picked to Finish First as Middle Atlantic / Commonwealth Conference Polls Are Released

2/26/08 -- Widener’s men’s lacrosse team was picked to finish first as the Middle Atlantic/Commonwealth Conference polls were released.

The men’s lacrosse team has won three straight Middle Atlantic Conference titles, appearing in the NCAA Tournament each time. The seniors are trying to become the third Widener class to win a MAC championship all four years (1999, 2000).

Senior midfielder Luke Weber (Lititz, PA) and senior attacker Brian Stromko (Maplewood, NJ) were named Honorable Mention Preseason All-Americas by Inside Lacrosse Magazine. Weber was tabbed first team All-MAC after closing second on the team with 32 goals and 48 points. Stromko, also named first team all-league, amassed a league-best 51 goals and closed second with 72 points.

The baseball team was picked second in the Commonwealth Conference, one year after falling one game shy of its first league title since 1999. Sophomore center fielder Mike Villari (Holland, PA) stepped in and was named first team all-league, leading the conference with 32 stolen bases and standing fourth with a .319 batting average.

Senior catcher Matt Fischer (Bensalem, PA) was picked second team all-conference with 13 base runners thrown out, a .977 fielding percentage and a .320 batting average.

The softball team was selected fifth in the Commonwealth Conference. Senior pitcher/infielder Mallory Meyer (Lansdowne, PA) was picked second team all-conference a second straight year after finishing fourth with 131 2/3 innings pitched, third with 20 starts and a 12-8 record.

Junior first baseman Krista Cesarine (Ridley, PA) was tabbed first team all-conference after closing second in the league with 30 RBI, tied for first with a 1.000 fielding percentage (295 chances) and first with 283 putouts. Senior designated player Rachel O’Leary (Coatesville, PA) ended third in the league with a .416 batting average, first on the team with 42 hits and tied for third on the squad with 18 RBI.

The women’s lacrosse team was picked sixth in the MAC. Junior attacker Grace Cavanaugh (Voorhees, NJ) led the Pride last season with 27 goals and was second with 59 points. Sophomore attacker/midfielder Jackie Elliott (Upper Darby, PA) was third on the team with 21 goals and 27 points.

Senior Kerri Schulz (Philadelphia, PA) and junior Amanda Wilson (Delran, NJ) each were tied for fourth on the squad with 12 goals.

Former Two-Sport All-America Todd Fairlie Plays First Game For the San Jose Stealth of the National Lacrosse League

1/29/08 -- Former Widener two-sport All-America Todd Fairlie (Broomall, PA) last Saturday competed in his first game for the San Jose Stealth of the National Lacrosse League.

Fairlie ended with three loose balls in the Stealth’s 11-6 loss in Denver to the Colorado Mammoth. Fairlie played defense, but his effort did not help San Jose fall to 1-2 on the season.

It is the second professional league Fairlie has competed in. He played last summer for the San Francisco Dragons of Major League Lacrosse, totaling four goals and 12 ground balls over eight contests.

Fairlie was an All-America for both the men’s lacrosse and football teams at Widener. He is in his second year as an assistant coach with men’s lacrosse and just completed his first with football.

The three-time All-Middle Atlantic Conference midfielder for men’s lacrosse ended fifth in school history with 119 goals, second with 152 assists and third with 271 points. Named Honorable Mention All-America in 2005 and 2006, Fairlie helped the Pride record a 46-19 record and three MAC championships.

His football career was just as remarkable, being named first team All-America and the East Region Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 as Widener won the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. The standout safety in 2006 was tabbed Honorable Mention All-America, helping the Pride capture the ECAC Southwest Bowl.

Fairlie and the Stealth play the New York Titans at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, January 31. The Stealth are in the area Friday, March 14 against the Philadelphia Wings at the Wachovia Center at 8:00 pm.

Luke Weber and Brian Stromko Named Preseason Honorable Mention All-Americas by Inside Lacrosse Magazine

12/5/07 -- Widener seniors Luke Weber (Lititz, PA) and Brian Stromko (Maplewood, NJ) were picked Honorable Mention All-Americas by Inside Lacrosse Magazine.

Weber enjoyed another standout season in which he was tabbed first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference, second team CoSIDA Academic All-District and a member of the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team.

The standout midfielder closed the year second on the team with 32 goals and 48 points and easily led the squad with a .576 face-off percentage. Weber also was first with seven man-up goals and fourth with 46 ground balls.

Weber enters the year with 99 goals and 41 assists (11th in school history) for 140 points.

Stromko also was picked first team all-league after amassing a league-best 51 goals and closing second with 72 points. He also closed tied for first in the conference with three game-winning goals and second on the team with six man-up goals.

He begins his final year on attack with 100 goals and 53 assists (ninth in school history) for 153 points (10th in school history).

Widener (13-6, 7-3 MAC) last season captured its third straight MAC title and 10th in 12 years. The squad won an NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year, topping Denison in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Salisbury in the "Sweet 16."

Widener opens its season with a four-game homestand, beginning February 23 against Cabrini.

Darnell Jones Tabbed ECAC Division III Men's Lacrosse Metro/Southern All-Star

7/26/07 -- Widener senior Darnell Jones (Severn, MD) today was named an ECAC Division III Men’s Lacrosse Metro/Southern All-Star.

Jones earned the honor after being named first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference a third straight year. One of the league's top defenders and a two-time Honorable Mention Preseason All-America, Jones helped the Pride allow only 7.43 goals this season. Jones ended the year with a team-best 58 ground balls.

One of six for the Pride to start all 19 games, Jones also was selected to compete in the USILA All-Star Game.

Jones’ effort this season helped Widener (13-6, 7-3 MAC) win its third straight MAC title and 10th in 12 years. The squad won an NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year, topping Denison in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Salisbury in the "Sweet 16."

Jones during his stay was a part of three MAC championships teams and three squads which advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Darnell Jones and Gavin Goane Compete in USILA All-Star Game

5/25/07 -- Seniors Darnell Jones (Severn, MD) and Gavin Goane (Springfield, PA) each competed in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-Star Game in Baltimore, MD.

Jones earned his place after being named first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference a third straight year. One of the league's top defenders and a two-time Honorable Mention Preseason All-America, Jones helped the Pride allow only 7.43 goals this season. Jones ended the year with a team-best 58 ground balls.

Goane, picked first team All-MAC, closed third on the squad with 43 points, tied for second with 21 points and fourth with 22 points. Also an Honorable Mention Preseason All-America, Goane was a major factor at midfield.

The two helped Widener (13-6, 7-3 MAC) win its third straight MAC title and 10th in 12 years. The squad won an NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year, topping Denison in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Salisbury in the "Sweet 16."

The game was played in conjunction with the NCAA Division I, II and III championships contests, also held in Baltimore.

Luke Weber Named CoSIDA Second Team Men's At-Large Academic All-District a Second Straight Year

5/24/07 -- Junior Luke Weber (Lititz, PA), a key figure the last three years for Widener’s men’s lacrosse team, has been tabbed CoSIDA second team Men’s At-Large Academic All-District for the second straight year.

It was another banner season for Weber, named second team All-Middle Atlantic Conference and a member of the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team a second consecutive year. He closed second on the team with 32 goals and 48 points, fourth with 46 ground balls, first with seven man-up goals and first by winning 58 percent (155-of-269) of his face-offs.

Weber played a key role this season in helping the Pride (13-6, 7-3 MAC) to their 10th MAC title in 12 years and sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament. He won the third-quarter face-off and scored a critical tally May 3 in Widener’s 9-5 MAC semifinal victory at Elizabethtown. In the final May 5 at Messiah, Weber won a face-off and netted what proved to be the game-winning goal with 1:53 left in the Pride's 9-6 victory.

Widener’s MAC championship was its third straight. The Pride captured an NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year, winning at Denison in the first round before bowing at unanimous No. 1 Salisbury in the second round.

Bringing home awards is not new to Weber, a two-time Honorable Mention Preseason All-America according to Inside Lacrosse Magazine. In 2006, he was picked Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men’s Lacrosse Performer of the Year after being tabbed first team All-MAC. He also was the 2005 MAC Rookie of the Year and a first team All-MAC honoree.

A two-year member of the MAC Academic Honor Roll, Weber owns a 3.85 GPA in Government and Politics.

Weber is the third Widener student-athlete to be picked on a CoSIDA Academic All-District team this academic year. Junior Rachel Chizmadia (Northboro, MA) was named first team from volleyball and senior Robert McHugh (Philadelphia, PA) was picked second team for football.

Luke Weber Named to Philadelphia Inquirer Men's Lacrosse Academic All-Area Team

5/18/07 -- Junior Luke Weber (Lititz, PA) has been named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Men's Lacrosse Academic All-Area Team.

Weber posted another standout year in being tabbed second team All-Middle Atlantic Conference. He closed second on the team with 32 goals and 48 points, fourth with 46 ground balls, first with seven man-up goals and first by winning 58 percent (155-of-269) of his face-offs.

Last year's Academic All-Area Player of the Year had several big goals this season. He won the third-quarter face-off and scored a critical tally May 3 in Widener’s 9-5 MAC semifinal victory at Elizabethtown. In the final May 5 at Messiah, Weber won a face-off and netted what proved to be the game-winning goal with 1:53 left in the Pride's 9-6 victory.

Weber last year also was picked first team All-MAC a second straight season after being tabbed 2005 Rookie of the Year.

A two-year member of the MAC Academic Honor Roll, Weber owns a 3.85 GPA in Government and Politics.

Widener (13-6, 7-3 MAC) this season clinched its 10th MAC title in 12 years and competed in its third straight NCAA Tournament. The squad notched an 8-5 victory at Denison before falling at top-ranked Salisbury.