By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/30/10
Recent Ridley graduate Dale Smith (attackman) has committed to play lacrosse next year at junior college powerhouse Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y.
Smith helped the Green Raiders (13-7 overall) finish fourth in the Central League this year and advance
to the second round of the District 1 playoffs. Smith was a three-year varsity player who helped the Delco team place second in the Keystone Games last year.
Onondaga won its fourth National Junior College championship in five years in 2010.
Smith, who also considered Division I schools Robert Morris and Hartford as well as Division III schools Fairleigh Dickinson, Widener, Stevens Tech, Cabrini and Washington College, is hoping to move up to a Division I college after playing at Onondaga. He plans to study business or education.
“I loved my visit to Onondaga; the campus was great,” he said. “It has great size to it and it is located right next to the city of Syracuse, so that was a plus. On campus there were a lot of buildings that were recently renovated, so everything was new.”
Smith was hampered by a severe ankle sprain in 2010 but did score 18 goals overall, including four goals in an 8-4 win over Penncrest. Last fall he made the Fab Forty All-Star team in the inaugural Philly Lacrosse Showcase at Episcopal Academy.
Smith felt the Raiders enjoyed a strong 2010 season. The year ended with a heartbreaking 9-8 triple-overtime loss to Central League rival Radnor in the district tournament.
“We had a great season even though we fell short in the second round of the playoffs,” he said.
