By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/8/09
Haverford School junior defenseman Alex Beatty has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Princeton University.
Beatty helped the Fords claim a share of the Inter-Ac League championship as well as the Inter-Ac playoff title last year.
He is one of seven Haverford School juniors to commit to a major Division I college. He also joins teammate Brendan McGrath – who just announced his commitment – as the first Philly recruits for new Tigers coach and Philadelphia native Chris Bates, the former coach at Drexel who has replaced the legendary Bill Tierney.
Beatty also considered Duke, Harvard, North Carolina, Penn, Yale and Dartmouth.
Beatty made his decision in the midst of an adverse period. He suffered a broken tibia during a Haverford School soccer game on Nov. 10 and spent nine days in the hospital. He has been in a wheelchair since undergoing surgery and will remain in the wheelchair for five more weeks.
Beatty is hopeful he will play sometime this spring and said doctors believe he will make a full recovery. He said he chose Princeton because of its close proximity to Philadelphia, the presence of Bates and the quality of the program as well as the school”s academics.
“It’s a great school with great lacrosse and it’s close to home and my family,” said Beatty, who has not chosen a major. “This injury has helped me realize how important my family is. Also, I love the campus. I’m not really a city guy.”
Beatty also noted that his older brother, Croom, is a sophomore at Princeton.
Beatty, who is 6-foot-7, is a standout soccer player who has played varsity since 8th grade and started every game from 9th grade until his injury. He was a captain this year and a first team All-Inter-Ac pick. He also plays soccer for FC Delco on their U18 Academy Team. He plays club lacrosse for the Duke’s L.C. and Seven Nations.
The other five Haverford juniors to commit to Division I colleges include: Chris Hupfeldt (attackman, Penn), Conor Kelly (goalie, Notre Dame), Goran Murray (LSM, Maryland), Carl Walrath (midfielder, Virginia) and Matt Walters (midfielder, Syracuse). Along with senior signees Liam O’Connor (Notre Dame), Stephen Aitken (Penn State) and Billy Annesley (St. Joseph’s), the Fords figure to be a formidable opponent ion 2009-10.
“We should have a great team,” said Beatty, who wished to thank Haverford School coaches John Nostrant, Mark Petrone, Travis Loving and Doug Knight for their support and help. “We hope to do well in the league and against some of the Maryland powers.”
