By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/12/09
Springfield-Delco rising senior defenseman Brendan Nave has made a verbal commitment 
to play Division I lacrosse at Penn State.
Nave, a first-team All-Central League and Honorable Mention All-Phillyacrosse.com pick in 2009, helped the Cougars reach the semifinals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) championships.
At Penn State, the Honors student plans to major in restaurant management and/ business. He plans to open his own restaurant one day.
“When you walk on the campus, you feel the big atmosphere,” said Nave. “There is always something going on; you’re never going to be bored.
“The coaches are really nice and I met a bunch of players. It’s a big family kind of atmosphere.”
One reason Nave likes the Penn State family is because of the large Philly connection. Much of the current team is from Philadelphia and fellow rising seniors Austin Kaut (Springfield-Delco teammate, goalie), Stephen Aitken (Haverford School, attackman), Shane Sturgis (Downingtown East, attackman), Ryan Mullen (Hatboro-Horsham, defenseman) and Tim Golder (Avon Grove, defenseman) also have committed.
“I think it’s a great thing (having all the Philly players),” said Nave, a member of the Duke’s Lacrosse Club. “It will make the transition freshman year much easier. Philly guys take care of each other; it will be great for rides home.”
Last year the Nittany Lions (9-5) won their last six games and finished the year ranked No. 16 in the nation. This season they move from the ECAC to the Colonial Athletic Association.
In 2009 Nave helped Springfield-Delco reach the District 1 semifinals and crack the Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse national power rankings following a 10-0 start. Aside from he and Kaut, rising seniors Colin Keegan (attackman) and Joe Addona (long stick midfielder) have committed to St. John’s and Josh Cavanaugh is being heavily recruited by Division I colleges.
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