By Darryl Grumling
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/24/10
Tower Hill School (Del.) junior attackman/midfielder Chas Robino has committed to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts.
Robino, an Independent Schools all-conference selection last year, le
d the Hillers (16-3) into the state finals where they fell to Salesianum. Robino, who also plays for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club, had 25 goals and 38 assists for Tower Hill.
Robino, who also considered Dartmouth, Bucknell, Navy, Colgate, Tufts and Middlebury, said he plans to major in either Business or Business Economics at UMass.
“It was more of just everything seemed like a fit for me,” said Robino. “I took an unofficial visit last weekend. I went up Saturday, and watched their game against Hartford (a 20-10 win). I took a tour with the coaches, and I stayed overnight with one of the players.”
The Minutemen, under coach Greg Cannella, went 4-3 in the ECAC and 9-6 overall last year, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. They entered this season ranked No. 18 in Inside Lacrosse’s preseason poll, and have switched conferences to the Colonial Athletic Association. Philly grads Mike Wilus (North Penn) and Colin Fleming (St. Joseph’s Prep) are on the roster of this year’s squad, which is off to a 2-0 start and currently ranked 14th in the nation.
“It didn’t come down to how great they are in lacrosse,” Robino said. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re a great team. But it was more of I needed to make sure I would be spending four years being happy with the coaching staff and the players. Once I realized all the players were awesome, the coaches were the coolest guys and the school would be a perfect home, I didn’t waste any time.”
For the time being, Robino will try and help the Hillers maintain their position among the Delaware elite.
“We lost an All-American from last year (attack Evan DeDominicis), but everybody else is back,” Robino said. “We’re going to basically have a good, solid defense and I’m going to be dodging a lot.
“Right now it’s looking great, especially after what we did last year.”
