By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/17/10
Plymouth Whitemarsh junior attackman Colin Joka has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Marist College (N.Y.).
Joka helped the Colonials (12-7) advance to the District 1 playoffs last year, scoring 37 goals while earning Suburban One American Conference first-team honors. Joka, who was an All-Phillylacrosse.com Honorable Mention pick, also competed in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Showcase and made the Junior Fab 40 team in the Phillylacrosse Showcase in November.
Joka, who plays club lacrosse for Rebel Elite, will join Rebels teammate Eddie Coombs at Marist. Coombs, a senior midfielder, signed with Marist in the fall.
“The main reason why I chose Marist is because of its size and academic support it offers,” Joka said. “These factors played a big part in my decision along with their great lacrosse program.
“The lacrosse team felt like a family. The campus (in Poughkeepsie) is beautiful. It’s right off the Hudson River and it’s always sunny there.”
Joka, who scored 41 goals as a freshman, plans to go into criminal justice.
Joka is the second PW Division I recruit; senior face-off specialist Shawn Kaplan signed with Ohio State in the fall.
For this season, Joka’s goal is to help the Colonials reach the district tourney again and challenge for the American Conference crown.
“We lost a lot of good seniors,” he said. “But I feel like the team can pull through and be pretty good. My goal is to try to make the playoffs and get past the first round.”
