By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/24/11
La Salle senior goaltender Victor Garcia has committed to play Division I lacrosse at Jacksonville University.
Garcia is a contributor on an Explorers team that went undefeated in the regular season of the Catholic League and plays Archbishop Carroll today in the semifinals at Cardinal O’Hara at 4 p.m. Garcia has missed the past seven weeks with a torn ligament in his thumb, but returned to practice Monday.
Garcia, a First Team All-Catholic League North Division pick last year who plays club lacrosse for the Duke’s L.C., will study Business and plans to go into aviation and become a commercial pilot. Garcia said he became interested in flying because his father was an Army pilot. He was introduced to flying at the age of 16.
Garcia had searched for a Division I program, and was recruited by Jacksonville – a second-year team that went 5-10 this year – after attending a clinic there in December.
“I kind of had a long recruiting road,” said Garcia. “I didn’t find a home until December when I heard about Jacksonville and went to the clinic.
“I played there two days straight and (it worked out). The weather there is awesome; it’s great to play lacrosse in January instead of freezing. The weather is conducive to good lacrosse teams and lacrosse is booming in the south.
Garcia was named La Salle’s Nick Collleluori winner for relentless play at last year’s Rivalry Games.
Garcia is the fifth Explorers senior to commit to a Division I program. The others are attackman Kevin Forster (Maryland), defenseman Mark DiFrangia (St. John’s), midfielder Jack Bogorowski (Johns Hopkins) and midfielder Zack Jones (Towson).
