By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/25/09
Hatboro-Horsham rising senior defenseman Ryan Mullen said he recently chose to give a verbal commitment to Penn State because he likes the size of the school and the Philly connection at University Park.
Mullen was an Honorable Mention All-Suburban One Continental Conference pick last year for a Hatters team that went 15-4 and advanced to the second round of the District 1 tournament.
Mullen will join a large list of Philly recruits heading to Penn State for 2010-11. Those that have committed include attackmen Tim Golder (Avon Grove), Stephen Aitken (Haverford School) and Shane Sturgis (Downingtown East), defenseman Brendan Nave (Springfield-Delco) and goalie Austin Kaut (Springfield-Delco).
“Penn State was always my No. 1 choice because I wanted a big school,” Mullen said. “I liked coach (assistant Travis) Johnson and my mom is an alumnus. It’s a really big network of alumni.
“I know Brendan Nave pretty well and some other Springfield-Delco kids that go there.”
Mullen, who is a tight end-defensive end for the Hatters’ football team, plans to major in communications. He also feels Penn State will be successful when it moved from the ECAC to the Colonial Athletic Association this year. Last season the Nittany Lions won their final six games and finished the year a slid 9-5.
In 2009, Mullen was a Suburban One Continental Honorable Mention pick. This summer he played club lacrosse for LB3.
Hatboro-Horsham had several key wins last year including an 11-9 victory over Continental Conference champion and District 1 semifinalist Central Bucks East and a 14-9 playoff triumph over Spring-Ford. The Hatters fell to Garnet Valley, 9-4, in the second round of districts.
Mullen, who will be joined at the Division I level by midfielder Eddie Coombs (Marist College), is excited about 2010.
“We had a really good season last year,” he said. “Next year we’re going to have high expectations. We have some good young classes and a strong senior class.”
