By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacosse.com, Posted 3/9/09
St. Joseph’s Prep senior attacker Colin Fleming has signed a letter of intent to play next year at the University of Massachusetts.
Fleming, an honorable mention All-Phillylacrosse.com pick last season, liked 
the location and coaching staff at the Amherst campus.
“I went up last February and got to know the coaches pretty well,” he said. “I liked the program and I got into the business school. That was one of the key factors.
“I also wanted to be in Massachusetts so I could be in the Boston area. My father grew up there.”
Fleming is choosing between management or marketing as a major.
For now, through, Fleming has serious business back at The Prep. The Hawks are coming off a strong 2008 season in which they nearly defeated La Salle in the Catholic League championship game before bowing to the Explorers in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association quarterfinals.
This year’s St. Joseph’s Prep team features a new coach, former Penn Charter assistant Eric Gregg, also a reserve goalie for the Philadelphia Barrage the past few years. Gregg inherits a veteran and talented team from former Prep coach Dan Keating.
“We have a really strong senior class,” Fleming said. “Five of us have been playing together on the varsity since freshman year. I think it will be easier for Coach Gregg to transition such an older group of guys.
“Now, he can add to what we’ve already learned under the Keatings (Dan and assistant Mike Keating). That will improve our overall game.”
Fleming said his team welcomes the chance to fight with La Salle, ranked second in the nation in the preseason rankings by Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse. Many players from The Prep play with and against La Salle players in the summer club scene
“We’ve played against them through the Duke’s and HEADstrong,” said Fleming, who played for Team HEADstrong. “They will be interesting games. Plus, just the whole Prep-La Salle rivalry adds a whole new aspect to the game.”
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