By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/28/10
Garnet Valley junior defenseman Ryan Lehman has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Maryland.
Lehman was a Second Team Central League choice in 2010, helping the Jaguars (17-6)
place third in the District 1 tournament and the Central League. He was chosen as the No. 32 Young Gun by Inside Lacrosse in its list of top Rising Juniors this summer and competed in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Showcase in June.
Lehman is a member of the Mesa Fresh 2012 club team and also played for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club.
Lehman also considered Princeton, Johns Hopkins and Penn.
Lehman, a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll and a two-time Ambassador winner for excellence on and off the field, said he liked the whole package at College Park.
“Maryland just seemed to have it all, it was perfect for me,” he said. “The location was great and the coaches were a huge part of it. I know some of the players and when I talked to them I see it fits them and that they really enjoy it.”
Lehman said a big draw was first-year coach John Tillman and assistant coaches Kevin Warne and Ryan Moran.
“I loved the coaches and I like the campus and that it’s about two hours away,” he said. “It’s not too far and not too close. I also liked the layout of the campus and that athletes can get apartments as freshmen.”
Lehman is the second Garnet Valley junior defenseman to commit to a Division I college in the past day; Ryan Guittare committed to Penn State earlier. Those two join senior long stick midfielder Alex Warden (Air Force Academy) as Division I recruits on the Jags’ backline.
Lehman noted that the Garnet Valley defense – which also features a fourth returning starter, Benny Baiocco – will be counted on heavily to lead the team in 2011. The Jaguars figure to be a serious contender.
“We’ll have a solid defense and we’ll be looking to shut down other teams and force as many turnovers as possible so we can give the offense the ball,” he said. “I think we should be as good or better than last year.
“We made it to states last year and we’re looking to return there.”
Lehman wished to thank Garnet Valley head coach Frank Urso and assistant coach Matt Baker as well as the Mesa Fresh and Duke’s LC coaches.
