Editor’s Note: This is one of many articles Phillylacrosse.com is re-posting as it restores content as a result of its redesign this spring
By Scott Johnston
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/13/09
Re-posted 6/26/10
Emmaus rising senior midfielder Tate Klidonas has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of
Hartford.
Klidonas, a Third-Team All-Phillylacrosse.com pick who also was MVP of the Lehigh Valley Conference, plans to major in physical therapy.
“I chose the University of Hartford because I enjoyed my campus visits and I connected well with the coaches,” said Klidonas who had also considered Sacred Heart and Providence University. “They also have a good physical therapy program which I intend to major in. Hartford was the complete package for me.”
Also a standout at the face-off X, Klidonas paced Emmaus with 59 goals and helped lead the Hornets to the LVC and District 11 championships. The Green Hornets finished 19-5 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs.
At Hartford, Klidonas will join fellow Philly recruit Andrew Cacchio (attackman) of Holy Ghost Prep. The Hawks compete in the America East Conference under coach Peter Lawrence and finished with a 1-4 record in the AEC and 2-11 overall in 2009. Eight of the team’s 11 defeats were by two goals or less. The Hawks graduated just seven seniors and will return all but two starters next year.
The University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) has been the dominant program in the AEC, reaching the NCAA Division 1 men’s tournament the past four seasons. The other teams competing in the AEC include Stony Brook, Albany, Binghamton and Vermont.
Emmaus lacrosse coach Jef Hewlings believes Klidonas will make an immediate impact when he arrives at Hartford.
“Their coach told me that when he gets there that they will have a senior midfielder (Tim Fallon) who plays the same type of game that Tate plays and that his expectation is that he’ll groom Tate,” said Hewlings. “Do I think he’ll play right away? Yes, but he may not be ‘the man’ right away. I do suspect over time that he’ll become one of their go-to kids. He will play high-level lacrosse (at Hartford).”
Klidonas is the third Emmaus senior to commit to a Division 1 college. The other two are defensemen Ty Souders (Lehigh) and Mike Bender (Bellarmine, KY).
Photo by Scott Growney
