By Molly Tow
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/3/11
Malvern Prep rising senior midfielder Fran McArdle has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Quinnipiac University.
McArdle helped Malvern Prep (14-6) finish second in the Inter-Ac League and reach the finals of the Inter-Ac Invitational.
McArdle, who has plays for Old School Lacrosse club, made the All-Star Game at the Top 205 camp. He also takes part in various types of community service at Malvern Prep, most notably the C.A.R.E.S. Walk, which raises money for multiple charities every year.
While at Quinnipiac, McArdle intends to major in a business-related subject. Quinnipiac was not initially on McArdle’s radar, but once he was exposed to the school and what it had to offer, the decision became easy.
“When I went up and visited it, I knew that I wanted to play Division I and I wanted a commitment,” said McArdle. “I just liked the campus, I liked that New Haven, the city, was right down the street, and I just felt like it was a place I could see myself at.”
The Bobcat coaches also made a good impression on McArdle.
“I like them a lot,” said McArdle. “They’re very dedicated to their players, and it seems like a real family atmosphere up there.”
McArdle is one of many Friars to commit to playing college lacrosse this year. Others are attackman Jake Glancy and midfielder Graeme Weaver (Washington and Lee), midfielder PJ Finley and defenseman Jack Sheridan (Notre Dame), midfielder Russell Atkinson and LSM/defenseman Kevin Samolsky (Naval Academy), and defenseman Eddie Morris (Johns Hopkins).
McArdle said the Friars enjoyed a successful season under first-year coach David Metzbower.
“Since my freshman year we’ve had three different coaches. We knew coach Metzbower was a very good coach, but we really didn’t know what to expect,” said McArdle. “Once he got there, we knew that he meant business, and we meant business.
“We got where we wanted to be at the Inter-Ac championships, and unfortunately we lost that. I think we won’t get over it until we reach that point next year.”
McArdle has high expectations for 2012.
“Our goal is to win the Inter-Ac and win the Inter-Ac Invitational,” he said. “And if we play a few out-of-state teams, we want to show other parts of the country that we can play.”
McArdle would like to thank his parents and Metzbower. “He helped me a lot through this process,” said McArdle of Metzbower. “My sophomore year was a difficult process, and he led me in the direction I needed to go in order to make my commitment.”
