By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/15/09
Haverford School senior attackman/midfielder Joe O’Rourke has signed a letter of intent to play at Jacksonville University for 2009-2010.
O’Rourke will join Penncrest’s Dan Jones (midfield) as Philly recruits and roommates heading south to the newest Division I program. The Dolphins will begin NCAA play next spring after announcing just one year ago that they would start a program.
”I was set on St. Joseph’s but he financial issues were too much and a family member had mentioned to me about Jacksonville starting a new team,” O’Rourke said. “I started to talk to coach (Matt) Kerwick and I fell in love with the program.
“I want to be a part of a brand new program.”
Did the weather have anything to do with his decision?
“My brother played at Drexel and one played at Penn, and they were always complaining about the cold weather,” O’Rourke said. “They were telling me to go down South.”
Before he heads down I-95, O’Rourke and his Haverford School teammates have some unfinished business. The Fords are the top seed in the inaugural Inter-Ac League tournament, which begins tonight with a doubleheader at Cabrini College.
Haverford, which tied with Malvern Prep for the crown, faces Germantown Academy at 5 p.m. in the opener. Malvern and Episcopal Academy meet in the nightcap.
“It’s all really exciting,” said O’Rourke. “It’s the first year (of the tourney) and we want to bring home the trophy. The teams are evenly matched and and it’s an exciting atmosphere for the Inter-Ac.
“It definitely hurts that we cannot go for the state title anymore (due to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association taking over sponsorship of boys’ lacrosse) because it was what everybody lived for.
“But we’re starting something new and that’s good for the Inter-Ac.”
