By Molly Tow
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/26/11

Bridgewater-Raritan (N.J.) rising senior midfielder Raymond Mastroianni has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Lehigh University.

Mastroianni helped Bridgewater-Raritan (21-2) win the New Jersey Tournament of Champions crown with a 6-5 victory over Summit. The Panthers were ranked in the Top 20 in the nation by Under Armour, ESPN Rise, LaxPower, and MaxPreps.

Mastroianni, who plays club lacrosse for 2 Knights, received Second Team All-State honors. He also is the starting quarterback for Bridgewater-Raritan’s football team.

He maintains a 4.0 GPA/High Honor Roll, and has participated in community service for several years with United Way of New Jersey.

While at Lehigh, Mastroianni plans to major in either Engineering or Business.

“Lehigh was a perfect fit for me,” said Mastroianni. “Academically, I love the coaches, coach [Kevin] Cassese and coach [Taylor] Wray, the facilities are great, where it is, but mainly the academic part.

“Everything clicked, everything fit. I had an uncle that went there and I have two cousins that just graduated so I’ve grown up always thinking Lehigh is top-notch. To have the chance to be able to go there is even better.”

In 2011, the Lehigh men’s lacrosse team finished with an overall record of 7-9, 3-3 in the Patriot League. Cassese, the former member of the Philadelphia Barrage and a captain with the 2010 World Cup champion US squad, is entering his fifth season in Bethlehem.

Other rising seniors from Philly committed to Lehigh include attackman Reid Weber (Germantown Academy), midfielder Ben Junior (Radnor), defensemen Casey Eidenshink (La Salle) and goalie Steve Brodeur (Strath Haven).

Along with clinching the NJ State Championship title, the Panthers won the 2011 Somerset County Championship title and the 2011 NJ State Group IV Championship title.

“It was an awesome experience to be able to bond with the players, we really had a good time,” said Mastroianni. “We all had the same goal, and to be able to accomplish it was just great.

“We look forward to the same thing next year. We only lost three starters, about eight kids returning, so we expect nothing less next year.”