La Salle All-American Schwartz changes commitment to Harvard

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/24/09

La Salle All-American midfielder Peter Schwartz has changed his commitment from Duke University to Harvard University, Phillylacrosse.com has learned.

Schwartz, who led the Explorers to the Pennsylvania state championship last year and a ranking of No. 1 in the final Lacrosse Magazine scholastic poll, said he was granted a release from his early decision commitment last fall to Duke because of financial reasons.

“Duke was where I wanted to be originally, but due to the financial situation, we just couldn’t make it work,” Schwartz said. “It (Harvard) makes more sense.

“Harvard was in the mix early. Obviously, it’s a great school and I can’t go wrong education-wise. I am excited for it.”

Schwartz said he is interested in math and science and may major in business.

On the lacrosse field, he offers Harvard coach John Tillman a major offensive presence either at midfield or on attack. Most lacrosse experts consider Schwartz to be one of the top scholastic offensive middies in the nation.

“Coach Tillman is leaving it up to me,” Schwartz said. “He said they don’t have a lot of right-handed attackmen and there is a big opening. There may be some potential playing time early, or I could run at midfield; whatever works best for the team.”

Now, Schwartz can focus on his final season at La Salle. The Explorers, who won the final Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association and Keystone Cup championships last year, enter the inaugural season of Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) boys’ lacrosse as the favorite to win another state crown.

La Salle was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the first Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse national poll and has a team loaded with major Division I talent.

Schwartz said the team is trying not to let high expectations get in the way.

“You see it everywhere, it’s hard to ignore and block out,” he said of the hype. “Everyone tries their best not to think about it. The biggest thing is our mentality; every game we have to be ready or we’ll be in trouble.”

Schwartz said the team is pleased to accept the challenge of being the target, as well as a national schedule to match.

“We all talk about having the same goal,” he said. “We want to play the best and see where we stack up. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”