By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/14/10
Haverford school junior midfielder/defenseman Will McNamara has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Virginia.
McNamara was a First Team Inter-Ac League pick at close defense last year for the Fords, helping them finish 20-4 and claim a share of the Inter-Ac championship while earning a national ranking in the Top 10 of two major publications. He also was listed as the No. 7 Young Gun in Inside Lacrosse’s listing of the top rising juniors in the country during the summer.
McNamara plays club lacrosse for Mesa Fresh 2012 as well as the Duke’s Lacrosse Club. He competed in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Showcase this June and also was a Fab 40 pick at the Philly Lacrosse Showcase last November.
McNamara is the third member of the Fords’ junior class to commit to a Division I college this week; earlier brothers Connor and Warner Bailey (defensemen) committed to Georgetown. McNamara will join Haverford School senior attackman Carl Walrath, who committed to UVA last year.
“When I got the letter from Virginia, my jaw dropped,” said McNamara. “I always wanted to go there and it was an opportunity I had to take.
“The combination of athletics and academics is amazing. The coaching staff is second to none and after spending time with the team, it was awesome getting to know the guys.”
McNamara plans to study business at Virginia, which has won three NCAA championships and reached the Final Four 12 times under 18-year head coach Dom Starsia.
McNamara, who also plays football and basketball, has proven to be a versatile player on the lacrosse field. He is a natural midfielder, but was forced to play close defense last year when the Fords had no returnees on the back line. He was a key to the team’s success, but may be moved back to the midfield line with the presence of the Bailey brothers and the expected return of Alex Beatty.
“They said I would play midfield there,” he said of his college future. “I could play either at Haverford School. If coach (John) Nostrant needs me to play defense or midfield, it doesn’t matter to me. It’s up to the coaches.”
McNamara wished to thank Nostrant, and Haverford School assistants Mark Petrone, Travis Loving, Dave Metzbower, Paul O’Grady and Doug Knight as well as the coaches at Mesa Fresh and the Duke’s.
McNamara is ready for the challenge of helping Haverford School deal with high expectations in 2011. It is likely the Fords will be ranked in the top few spots in every poll heading into the season.
“The caliber of players we have going into next season is unbelievable,” he said. “Everyone is going to be gunning for us; we’ll certainly have a target on us. But if we play up to expectations and keep on working hard, I think it all will go well.”
