By Darryl Grumling
Phillylacrosse.com,Posted 3/10/10
Upper Darby High senior defenseman Rob Foster has committed to play Division III lacrosse at Neumann University.
Foster was part of a Royals squad that went 2-9 in the Central League and 8-10 overall last year.
“They have a real nice campus, plus they have the major I would like to go into,” said Foster, who plans to major in Athletic Training. “It was one of my only choices where I could play competitive NCAA lacrosse. I had just applied to some of the state schools and there.”
Neumann coach Roland D’Ortone, who teaches at Upper Darby, played a key role in Foster’s decision. Under D’Ortone, Neumann went 0-6 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference and 2-13 overall last year.
Philly grads on the Knights roster include: Andrew Newbauer (Cardinal O’Hara), Kevin Best (Pennridge), Mark Consolo (Spring-Ford), Tom Hedrick (Springfield), Steve Minor (Garnet Valley), Ryan O’Shea (Springfield), Rosendo Luna (Cardinal O’Hara), James McCauley (Perkiomen Valley), Kyle Gardner (Perkiomen Prep), Brandon Thomas (Coatesville) and Matt Toth (Coatesville).
“They might not be expecting big things right away,” Foster said. “But eventually I think they’re going to be pretty good.”
Foster, who joins New Hope-Solebury defenseman Kramer Kaufelds and Springfield-Delco defenseman Scott Parke as Neumann recruits, hopes to help Upper Darby make an impact in the perennially-tough Central League this spring.
“We’ve got a lot of talent, and I think we’ll be able to battle for a playoff spot,” he said. “It’s probably one of the best leagues in the country, and it’s tough when you have to play against Springfield and ‘Stoga, but if we can muscle out a couple wins against the other teams, we have a chance.”
