By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/9/09

Conestoga junior long stick midfielder Brian Dailey has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Duke University.

Dailey was a first-team All-Central League and a Third Team All-Phillylacrosse.com pick for a Pioneers team that went 24-2 in 2009 and won the first District 1 championship. Conestoga reached the finals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs, bowing to La Salle, 7-3, in the title game.

Dailey was listed as the No. 42 player in the Inside lacrosse Young Guns Rising Juniors heading into the 2009-10 season. Dailey is the second junior on the Pioneers to commit to a Division I college; the other is defenseman Benn Karr (Ohio State).

Dailey also considered Georgetown, Notre Dame, Penn State and Maryland.

“When I went to visit, I really liked the campus and the coaching staff,” said Dailey. “The other thing that drew me to Duke is that they really like the transition game. That’s one of my strong points.”

Dailey will join several recent Philly recruits at Duke. This year’s Duke freshman class includes defenseman Billy Conners (Malvern Prep) and goalie Dan Wigrizer (Haverford School). Seniors that have signed with Duke include attackman Jordan Wolf (Lower Merion) and long stick midfielder Henry Lobb (Malvern Prep).

For now, Dailey will focus on the upcoming season, which is creating much excitement at Conestoga. The Pioneers, who went undefeated in the Central League last year, return a host of key players (six Division I signees and four that have committed to play in Division III) and will be one of the favorites to win the state title.

“Expectations are really high,” said Dailey, who plays for the Mesa Fresh 2010 club team. “We have had a lot of guys committing to Division I schools.

“We’re working hard in the off-season. We’re definitely thinking a state championship is a possibility.”

Tags: Conestoga