Cassese announces addition of 16 newcomers to Lehigh men’s lacrosse program


BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Smith Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kevin Cassese announced the team’s incoming class on Tuesday, which includes 14 incoming freshmen and two transfers. A highly-touted class features numerous All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, and many recognized by Inside Lacrosse, Lacrosse Magazine and other media outlets among the nation’s top incoming freshmen.

“We are excited to welcome this group of 16 newcomers to the Lehigh Lacrosse family,” said Cassese. “I want to commend assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brendan Callahan for his hard work on the management side and general oversight of the recruiting operations that brought this talented group of individuals to campus. We look forward to getting to work with these newcomers and a very talented group of returning upperclassmen in a few short days.”

Sophomore transfer Jack Bogorowski comes to Lehigh from Johns Hopkins where he played last season. He will reunite with older brother Derek (a senior) along with two others from La Salle College High School: Mike Noone and incoming freshman Casey Eidenshink. Pat Dougherty marks the Mountain Hawks’ other transfer, coming to the Lehigh Valley from Navy.

Defenseman Tripp Telesco cracked Inside Lacrosse’s Power 100 freshmen, coming in at 73, while both he and Eidenshink were ranked among the top 40 incoming defensemen, at 21 and 35, respectively. Steve Brodeur came in at #13 in Inside Lacrosse’s top 20 goalies.

In addition, midfielder Ray Mastroianni participated in the US Lacrosse Champion All-American Showcase this summer, being listed among the 10 Who Impressed by Lacrosse Magazine.

For the complete player-by-player rundown, please see below.

Chris Appell • A • Locust Valley, N.Y. • Business •
A three-sport varsity captain at Locust Valley High School, Appell was a standout in football, basketball and lacrosse. A four-year varsity lacrosse letterwinner, Appell was a two-time Academic All-County performer (as a junior and senior), garnering Academic All-Conference as a sophomore. He posted 135 career goals and 96 career assists, finishing his senior year as an Academic All-American and team MVP. Appell was an Academic All-Conference running back and safety, garnering the “Iron Man Award.” He helped lead basketball to a county championship, earning Academic All-Conference and the Unsung Hero Award. Appell received the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete Award senior year as an all-around student. Strong in the classroom, he was an IB Scholar and member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Appell made 16 consecutive Principal’s High Honor Rolls.

Tyler Batesko • D • Mountain Lakes, N.J. • Arts and Sciences •
Batesko was a standout lacrosse and football player at Mountain Lakes High School. A three-year varsity lacrosse letterwinner, Batesko was a freshman and senior captain. He was First Team All-Conference, All-County and All-State performer, while earning Second Team All Star-Ledger laurels. He led Mountain Lakes to the 2012 Morris County Championship. As a senior, Batesko caused 26 turnovers and scooped 38 groundballs, earning the Hugh Chambers Award. He was also a three-year varsity letterwinner in football, finishing his senior year with 856 yards and nine touchdowns. A team captain, Batesko was an All-Conference fullback and All-County running back while garnering the Top Offensive Back and HERD Hustle Awards.

Jack Bogorowski • M • Newtown, Pa. • Johns Hopkins • Business
Younger brother of Lehigh senior Derek Bogorowski, Jack transfers to Lehigh after his freshman season at Johns Hopkins where he got into three games. A highly-touted prospect, Bogorwoski was ranked as the #11 midfielder by ESPN Rise, and the #45 rising senior by Inside Lacrosse. A First Team All-State honoree at La Salle College High School, Bogorowski also earned honorable mention ESPN All-America recognition. Bogorowski was a two-time Pennsylvania State Champion and three-time All-Philadelphia Catholic League honoree. The 2011 Jerry Middlemiss winner, he was a member of the National Honor Society.

Steve Brodeur • G • Wallingford, Pa. • Arts and Sciences •
Brodeur impressed at Strath Haven High School, as a three-year starter and school record holder for career saves. He wrapped up his career in 2012 by earning First Team All-League, All-State, All-Delaware County and All-Philadelphia Inquirer. Brodeur was also one of three incoming Lehigh freshmen to earn a spot on the All-Phillylacrosse.com team. In 2011, Brodeur impressed as a First Team All-League and All-State performer while garnering First Team U.S. Lacrosse All-America laurels, First Team All-Phillylacrosse.com and Second Team All-Delaware County. The year prior, Brodeur was named Second Team All-Central League and honorable mention All-Delaware County. He was ranked as the #13 incoming goalie by Inside Lacrosse, and 13th by ESPNHS. A two-time Strath Haven defensive MVP, Brodeur was an honors student throughout high school.

Eddie DeDomenico • M • Rye, N.Y. • Business
From The Brunswick School in Connecticut, DeDomenico was a four-year varsity lacrosse player and three-year starter at midfield. He was a senior captain, earning All Western New England All-Star distinction. DeDomenico was selected as one of three sophomores on the New York Hudson Valley Empire Team. Also a four-year varsity football player, DeDomenico was the only freshman to make the varsity team. He excelled in the classroom as a four-year Academic Honor Roll member. He showed tremendous leadership as well, as one of 15 senior boys selected to mentor freshmen. DeDomenico was also selected to Middle School Connections, a group that works with elementary school children.

Pat Dougherty • M • Kensington, Md. • Navy • Political Science
A transfer from Navy, Dougherty was a standout lacrosse, football and basketball player at St. Albans. He played four years of varsity lacrosse and three years of both football and basketball. Dougherty finished the 2010 lacrosse season as the leading scorer in the Washington D.C. area with 88 points. A senior captain and All-IAC team member, he led St. Albans to the 2007 IAC lacrosse championship. Dougherty garnered numerous other honors as well, including 2007 and 2009 Washington D.C. Under Armour Team laurels, 2010 Washington Post Honorable Mention All-Met, a spot on the Washington D.C. All-District Team and Washington D.C. Player of the Year. Dougherty starred for the football team as well, leading St. Albans to the 2007 and ’09 IAC Football Championship while leading his squad with eight interceptions as a senior. Dougherty was also a four-year starter for the 2010 Baltimore Crabs.

Alex Eaton • M • Westford, Mass. • Arts and Sciences •
Eaton comes to Lehigh from Westford Academy in Massachusetts, where he spent a successful 2012 season. He was team captain and MVP, earning numerous individual honors, including Dual County League, Lowell Sun and Eastern Massachusetts Division I First Team All-Star. Also a Massachusetts Lacrosse All-American, Eaton owned a strong 3.6 GPA as an honors student, earning a spot on the Boston Globe All-Scholastic First Team. Prior to Westford Academy, Eaton spent 2009, 2010 and 2011 at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, starting at midfield. He helped lead the squad to the 2010 New Hampshire Division I Lacrosse Championship, going 19-2 while finishing top 20 in New England and top 50 in the nation. An Honorable Mention Lowell Sun All-Star as a freshman, Eaton garnered a spot on the New Hampshire Division I All-Star Team. He was also a 2010 First Team All-State performer, Second Team Lowell Sun All-Star and member of the Blue Chip Camp Elite Division All-Star. Eaton was an honors student at Bishop Guertin, posting an impressive 3.46 GPA. In addition, he was a star football player as a running back and linebacker, helping lead Bishop Guertin High School to back-to-back Division II State Championships in 2010 and ’11. The 2010 team finished a perfect 13-0 and was recognized as one of the best teams in state history. Individually, Eaton was honored with New Hampshire State All-Star laurels. Then at Division I Westford Academy, he continued to play football, becoming the leading rusher in the area (1,863 yards) while finishing second in scoring (19 touchdowns). Eaton set the school record for touchdowns and yards in a single game (five touchdowns, 333 yards vs. Groton) while garnering numerous individual honors: Dual County League First Team All-Star, Lowell Sun First Team All-Star and ESPN Boston Player of the Week.

Casey Eidenshink • D • Wyncote, Pa. • Arts and Engineering
From La Salle College High School, Eidenshink enters Lehigh as one of the nation’s top defensive prospects. Listed as the #35 incoming defensemen by Inside Lacrosse, Eidenshink was a three-time All-Catholic Lacrosse performer (2010-12). He capped off his career as a senior when he was an All-American, Warrior All-American, Catholic League MVP, Team Captain and All-EPSLA (Pennsylvania All-State). Eidenshink was part of the 2009 State Championship Team, and was a two-time state runner-up in 2010 and 2012. He was part of the All-PhillyLacrosse team in 2012 as well. Strong in the classroom, Eidenshink was part of the National Honor Society while earning First Honors.

Corey Eppley • D • Darien, Conn. • Business
Eppley was a standout three-sport student-athlete at Darien High School in Connecticut. In lacrosse, he garnered All-Fciac, All-State and All-America honors while earning All-Fciac and Defensive MVP laurels in football. Eppley also ran track, garnering All-Fciac, All-State and All-New England. He also served as team captain in both football and track.

Max Fredrickson • A • Victoria, British Columbia • Engineering
Fredrickson marks the third Canadian on Lehigh’s roster, joining sophomores Patrick Corbett and Dan Taylor. Co-captain of Claremont Secondary’s varsity lacrosse team, the team went undefeated in 2012 – spanning over 30 games in five tournaments across Canada and the United States. Fredrickson led Claremont to the championship game where it defeated Charles Best Secondary, 10-9. He was named game MVP after posting three goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal. Fredrickson garnered co-MVP of the team, along with Division I bound goalie Stu Smith (Bellarmine). Fredrickson was captain of the Victoria Intermediate A Shamrocks (box lacrosse team), finishing with 31 goals and 40 assists in 13 games, despite an injury ridden season, while earning Team MVP at the end of the regular season. He went on to post 11 goals and 16 assists in six games of the Provincial Championships, leading the Shamrocks to silver. Fredrickson had three goals and three assists in the Gold Medal Game, but it wasn’t enough in a 12-9 loss to New West. Fredrickson played for the U-19 Tier I Victoria Titans in the 2011-12 club field lacrosse season. He led the Titans to first place in the division and a berth in the Provincial Championships. Fredrickson posted 30 goals and 14 assists in 11 games, finishing first in the league in overall points, assists and man-up goals and second in total goals. Fredrickson graduated with honors from Claremont Secondary.

Andrew Iacocca • A • Allentown, Pa. • Business
A local product, Iacocca comes to Lehigh from Allentown Central Catholic and Blair Academy where he was a four-year varsity starter in both lacrosse and football. He served as junior and senior captain, breaking the Blair Academy record for most career points (323) and goals (193) while adding 130 assists. He also won the Blair Academy Lacrosse Award junior and senior year. Iacocca was an All-Maple honoree all four years, earning honorable mention as a freshman, then first team each of his final three seasons. His junior year, Iacocca broke the Blair Academy record for most goals in a season (76). Iacocca was also a four-year varsity starter in football. Sophomore year, he was Second Team All-Prep for offense (as a wide receiver) before one-upping that as a junior when he was First Team All-State for offense and defense and First Team All-Prep for defense (as a safety). He earned First Team for both again as a senior, serving as team captain while receiving the Frerer Football Award. Iacocca also played basketball, helping lead his squad to the 2010 New Jersey Prep A State Championship. Iacocca received the Robert Dowling award (for the student voted most athletic out of his class) and was voted captain of the Long Island Sting Black Lacrosse Team.

Ben Junior • M/A • Wayne, Pa. • Business •
Standout at Radnor High School, Junior was the team’s Offensive MVP as a senior while earning First Team All-Mainline Lacrosse and Second Team All-Central League. Junior set Radnor High School records for goals in a season and career. The squad was one of four remaining teams in the state playoffs in 2012. A year prior, Junior earned honorable mention All-Mainline, honorable mention All-Central League and was an All-EPSLA Public School selection for a second straight year. Radnor was also Tri-State runner-up for a third consecutive season. As a sophomore, Junior earned Second Team All-Mainline and honorable mention All-Central League. Junior was on the Supper Sizzle Champions’ squad, a year after winning the Summer Slam Championship. Junior made Radnor’s Varsity team as a freshman. Strong in the classroom, he was also a High Honors student.

Ray Mastroianni • M • Martinsville, N.J. • Engineering •
A midfielder at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Mastroianni starred on and off the field. He finished his career with a bang in 2012 as a New Jersey Lacrosse All-American, Midfielder of the Year and Tournament of Champions winner. Mastroianni excelled in the 2012 Champion All-American Lacrosse Showcase in Orlando, Florida, listed among the 10 Who Impressed by Lacrosse Magazine. Mastroianni led Bridgewater-Raritan to the 2012 New Jersey Lacrosse Group IV State Title, along with the Somerset County and Skyland Conference Championships via an undefeated season. He led the squad to a 36-game winning streak bridging the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Bridgewater-Raritan finished third in the country in the 2012 ESPN Fab 50 rankings. Mastroianni also earned First Team All-State, All-Area, All-Somerset County and All-Skyland Conference honors while being featured in the 2012 MSG Varsity Magazine Spring Edition. He was just as impressive as a junior, leading Bridgewater-Raritan to a number of championships: New Jersey Lacrosse Tournament of Champions, Group IV State and Somerset County. Mastroianni also represented New Jersey in the 2011 Under Armour All-American Showcase. He was a two-year member of the Garden State Challenge, earning All-State, All-County and All-Skyland Conference lacrosse honors as a junior. Mastroianni was a star quarterback on the football team, captaining and earning team MVP honors in 2011. He was the 2012 Sunshine Football Classic (East vs. West) Most Valuable Player and Delaware Valley Chapter Football Hall of Fame Scholarship winner. He received various honors from the conference, county and state, and was recognized as a top 100 football player in New Jersey his final two seasons. A four-year Iron Man Award winner, Mastroianni received the Michael Bruce Lacrosse Scholarship. Finishing with an overall high school GPA of 4.12, he made the honor roll every marking period throughout high school. A two-year member of the National Honor Society, Mastroianni was the 2012 Bridgewater-Raritan Scholar-Athlete Award Recipient. He also had extensive volunteer experience for the United Way and Special Olympics.

Will McKee • M • Oakland, Calif. • Business •
The third California native on Lehigh’s 2013 roster (along with Noah Molnar and Tom Farrell), McKee comes in as a U.S. Lacrosse and Adrenaline All-American. He garnered both honors as a senior, along with First Team All-League laurels and the Brophy Award (best male athlete at St. Ignatius). McKee was a senior captain, leading the team to a 21-1 record and league championship. He won 73 percent of his faceoffs (230-of-315), along with nine goals, nine assists and team-leading 91 groundballs. McKee was ranked as the #17 faceoff man in the nation by ESPN, while ranking as the 14th overall player in the West by Westside Lacrosse. He was also captain of the varsity football team, earning Second Team All-City to lead St. Ignatius to a Central Coast Section championship. As a junior, McKee was an Under Armour Underclassman All-American; he also attended Jake Reed’s Nike Blue Chip and Peter Worstell’s California Gold Invitational. McKee was an All-Star at California Gold (for three years), while attending the Adrenaline Challenge (twice) and King of the Hill. He was ranked as the #1 sophomore in the West by Westside Lacrosse and won “Most Athletic” Award at the NELC Camp with Kyle Harrison. McKee was a starting midfielder on JV as a freshman, leading all midfielders in faceoffs and goals.

Tripp Telesco • D • Ridgewood, N.J. • Business • Watch: Highlight Video
An All-American defenseman at Ridgewood High School, Telesco garnered endless honors. He was rated the #1 defenseman in New Jersey by MSG Varsity, and also made MSG Varsity’s All-Metro First Team. Telesco ranked 73rd in Inside Lacrosse’s Power 100 freshmen, and 21st in its top 40 incoming defensemen. A team captain and MVP, Telesco was a First Team All-State and All-Suburban honoree. He led Ridgewood in takeaways and groundballs his final two seasons, finishing with 40 and 88, respectively. An Underclassman Under Armour All-American, Telesco earned the Coaches Award freshman year, switching to long pole for the first time the middle of sophomore season. Telesco was also a star football player, garnering First Team All-State, All-Suburban and All-County. He made 138 tackles in a season to break the school record, a record held since 1979 by a former NFL player. In total, Telesco finished with 234 career tackles (just four shy of the career record). He was also MVP and captain of his football team.

Reid Weber • A • Oreland, Pa. • Business •
Weber comes to Lehigh from Germantown Academy where he enjoyed tremendous success. He finished his career with 180 career goals (second in school history) and 71 assists for 251 career points. Weber tallied 72 goals as a junior (third all-time) while posting 57 goals and 22 assists as a senior. In total, the four-year varsity starter led Germantown Academy in scoring three times. Weber was a team captain and Senior Award winner. He earned All Inter-AC laurels three times, including First Team once. The Inter Ac All-Star honoree was named an All Phillylacrosse.com Top Attackman. Weber was All-Intel Player of the Year and a Philly Showcase Gait Fab 40 All-Star. He was recently named to the All-Phillylacrosse.com team. Weber also played water polo and ice hockey in high school. In water polo, he was a four-year varsity starter, two-time All Inter-AC honoree and team captain. Strong in the classroom, Weber was a member of the Honor Roll; he was a Patriot Ambassador and member of the Student Government while earning Honors Art commendations as well.

Posted in

Lacrosse Playground

In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.

3 Comments

  1. Austin on August 21, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    Go Will McKee! I played with him at California Gold, great guy

  2. Austin on August 21, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    Go Will McKee! I played with him at California Gold, great guy

  3. Austin on August 21, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    Go Will McKee! I played with him at California Gold, great guy

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.