By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/27/10
St. Joseph’s Prep senior defenseman Connor Dent has made a verbal commitment to play Division i lacrosse at Bryant University.
Dent missed most of the 2010 season while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, but returned late in the year several weeks early to help the Hawks reach the Catholic League championship game.
Dent, named a team co-captain for 2011, played in the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Showcase in June. He plays club lacrosse for HEADstrong Elite.
He plans to study business at Bryant, coached by US men’s world championship mentor Mike Pressler.
“Bryant is a school known for its business program and the campus (Smithfield, R.I.) is beautiful,” Dent said. “It’s not a big school and I like the environment. Also, their lacrosse program is like a band of brothers.”
Dent joins two other Philly seniors that have committed to Bryant: Episcopal Academy attackman Shane Morrell and Conestoga midfielder Kevin Rudd. He is the fifth St. Joe’s Prep senior to commit to a Division program; the others are Jeff Heath (Delaware, midfield), Rob Watts (St. Joseph’s University, attackman), Jake O’Brien (Lafayette, face-off specialist/MF) and Cory Scheuerle (Lafayette, attackman).
Dent said he injured his knee during the football season and was not expected to be back for the end of the lacrosse season.
“I rehabbed and came back May 11, three weeks early,” he said. “I did catch the end of the season and helped the team out. I was very grateful to play lacrosse in general.”
Dent is confident the Hawks can contend with seven-time Catholic League champion La Salle in 2011.
“Last year we were junior-heavy and this year we are expecting to do big things,” he said. “We’re all great friends and have been through the program together. We know how how each other plays and our chemistry is great.”
