By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/9/10
St. Joseph’s Prep rising junior midfielder Jeff Heath has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Delaware.
Heath was a first-team all-Catholic League South Division pick this year. He scored 43 goals and helped the Hawks finish 12-8, reach the Catholic League finals and earn a spot in the PA Media Rankings Top 10.
“I chose Delaware because I like how it’s close to home, but still has that out-of-state feel,” he said. “The coaching staff was really nice and it was just a great fit. I really like the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association).”
This year was a good for the Blue Hens and veteran coach Bob Shillinglaw, who led Delaware to the CAA championship and into the NCAA playoffs.
Heath said he plans to major in Business.
“I have had Delaware on my radar since it made the Final Four (in 2007),” he said. “The team is real nice and the atmosphere is cool.”
Heath plays for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club and last year was chosen to participate in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Showcase. He was pleased with the Hawks’ season, noting the team won games against nationally-ranked St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) and Philly powers Malvern Prep, Episcopal Academy and Emmaus.
The season ended with a 7-5 loss to La Salle in the Catholic League finals, but Heath is confident the Hawks can challenge again next year for the crown.
“We were really young,” said Heath, who also plays linebacker for the St. Joe’s football team. “We had a lot of juniors and it was great seeing our progression. We had a couple tough losses, but we beat St. Anthony’s, which was No. 6 in the country.
“It was the same story in a different year with the loss to La Salle, but we have a great bunch of guys. We had no excuses; we left it all on the field.”
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