Men’s recruit: Conestoga’s Mita chooses to play close to home at Villanova

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/26/09

Conestoga senior attacker Paul Mita said a strong academic program was the major reason he chose to sign a letter of intent to play lacrosse at nearby Villanova University.

But he also liked the lacrosse program.

“When I was looking at different schools, the most important thing was education,” Mita said. “Villanova was the school that fit my educational needs. It has a really good business school and seems like a nice place to fit in.

“They have a lot of potential and upside and they are moving into the Big East. Plus, I really liked coach (Michael) Corrado.”

Mita scored 52 goals last year, earning second-team All-Central League honors for a Pioneer team that went 14-8 and finished fourth in the league. Currently, Mita is a key reserve on the undefeated Conestoga basketball team.

Mita, who boasts a 4.0 GPA on a weighted scale, also considered Rutgers, Lafayette, Penn State as well as Ivy League schools Brown and Dartmouth.

Another plus about going to school close to home is the fact his family can see him play college lacrosse.

“I know my dad will come to all the games, as well as the rest of my family,” said Mita, a member of the HEADstrong Lacrosse Club. “Both of my grandparents come to every game. The Mita family is huge, and they all live in this area, so it will be great.”

In the meantime, Mita said Conestoga has high hopes for 2009.

“I think we’re going to be really good,” he said. “We’re going to be a little young, but we have a lot of depth.”