By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/9/09
Haverford School junior long stick midfielder Goran Murray has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Maryland.
Murray, who also plays close defense, becomes the fourth member of the deep junior class at Haverford to commit to a major Division I school. In the last few weeks, midfielders Carl Walrath (Virginia) and Matt Walters (Syracuse) and goalie Conor Kelly (Notre Dame) have committed.
Murray also becomes the second Philly junior to commit to Maryland. Last month La Salle attackman Kevin Forster committed to Maryland.
Like Forster, who was ranked as the No. 7 rising junior by Inside Lacrosse magazine, and Walrath, who was No. 20, Murray also was cited by Inside Lacrosse as the No. 25 recruit in his class. Murray played a key role primarily at LSM for the Fords as they claimed a share of the Inter-Ac League championship and then defeated Malvern Prep to claim the first Inter-Ac league playoff title.
Murray also played for the private team in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Showcase in June and helped the Philly team claim third place in the Under Armour Underclassmen Games.
Murray said he also considered Georgetown, Loyola, Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State, Penn and Cornell and Dartmouth.
He plans to study computer engineering and minor in computer science and graphics at Maryland. He is looking to go into computer development of video games.
“I chose Maryland because it had more of a people feel and it had the program I wanted,” Murray said.
Murray also felt comfortable with Terps coach Dave Cottle and assistant Dave Slafkovsky.
“Coach Cottle and coach Slapkowski were real big (keys) for me choosing Maryland,” Murray said. “I also liked the dorm life; it was a step up from most other colleges I have seen.
“I also liked the general personality of most of the people at Maryland. And I have a lot of family down there.”
Murray is excited about Haverford School’s potential for 2010. The Fords are likely to have several more juniors committing to major Division I schools in the next few months and will head into the season with high expectations.
“We have a lot of Division I talent and we have to live up to our expectations,” Murray said. “It should be a good year for us. I’m just hoping for the best.”
Murray also wanted to thank Haverford head coach John Nostrant and assistants Mark Petrone, Doug Knight and Travis Loving as well as the Hupfeldt and Walters families from Seven Nations Lacrosse for helping him develop his skills.
