Men’s recruit: Malvern Prep senior defenseman Moran commits to St. Joseph’s Univ.

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/4/10

Malvern Prep senior defenseman Jack Moran has committed to play NCAA Division I lacrosse at St. Joseph’s University.

Moran was a key contributor on a Friars team that went 11-9 and tied with Haverford School for the Inter-Ac league championship last year. Moran, who plays club lacrosse for Team HEADstrong, has been named a co-captain for the upcoming season.

Moran said he was already familiar with the St. Joe’s campus before making his visits and was impressed with Hawks coach Pat Cullinan.

“I had been down there many times before and I love the campus and the whole message that coach Cullinan gives,” he said. “I got to meet the players and I knew it was a great fit.”

Moran, who is leaning toward majoring in Marketing, noted that St. Joseph’s will be moving into the Colonial Athletic Association next year. The Hawks, who currently play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, would be matched with more regional conference opponents such as Drexel and Delaware as well as Towson University and Penn State.

“It should be interesting,” he said. “I think the future looks bright with the move to the CAA.”

Moran also excelled for the Malvern Prep football team, which tied for the Inter-Acv championship with Chestnut Hill Academy and Haverford School. He was named an All-Inter-Ac defensive tackle and served as co-captain.

At St. Joe’s, Moran will join fellow Philly recruits Brian Urban (Central Bucks East, attackman), Billy Annesley (Haverford School, midfielder) and Anthony Cognetti (La Salle, midfielder).

Moran is one of six Friars headed to a Division I colleges. The others are goalie Andrew O’Connell and midfielder Ryan Creighton (North Carolina), midfielder Bobby Hill (Virginia), long stick midfielder Henry Lobb (Duke) and midfielder Mark Jackson (Villanova).

Moran is confident that Malvern Prep can challenge for the Inter-Ac championship.

“Everyone is talking about Haverford School and that they have so many committed players (to Division I),” Moran said. “That’s a good thing; it keeps us aout of the spotlight.

“We’re just working really hard. We lost a lot of good players, but we’re excited to start the season with high expectations. We have nothing less than that.”