By Molly Tow
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/10/11
Pottsgrove rising senior defenseman Branden Mercier has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Mount St. Mary’s University.
Mercier, who plays for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club, received Second Team Pioneer Athletic Conference honors.
Mercier intends to study Business Management or Computer Science at Mount St. Mary’s, the 2011 Northeast Conference title winner.
Mercier had his sights set on Mount St. Mary’s before he had even learned about its lacrosse program.
“I went there twice, played for coach [Tom] Gravante twice, visited the campus, and it felt like a great fit,” said Mercier . “I first went down there for a practice session in the fall [2010], and this summer I went to a tournament there and played for his recruiting team. I’m from Maryland, and I wanted to go back to Maryland.”
Mercier is the second rising senior from Philly to commit to Mount St. Mary’s. He will join Ridley goalie Frankie McCarthy, who committed last month
Although Pottsgrove finished 6-12 overall, Mercier considered the season a success.
“It was a good season compared to the past,” said Mercier. “We worked hard, we didn’t have too many numbers so it was a little difficult to keep up. The PAC-10 league was pretty strong this year, with Owen J Roberts (11-3 PAC-10) and Spring-Ford (14-0 PAC-10). I think we definitely improved as a team, and we’re young so next year’s going to be our big year.”
Mercier is optimistic for 2012.
“Next year I hope to make the playoffs in the PAC-10,” said Mercier. “We’re pretty much all seniors next year; we’ve all started since freshman year since we’re just a young core group of players. I just hope next year that our age can push us into the PAC-10 playoffs.”
Mercier wished to thank the coaches at the Duke’s Lacrosse Club and Team Philadelphia.
