By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/25/11
Eastport South Manor (N.Y.) rising junior midfielder Matt Prokesch has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Delaware.
Prokesch had 27 goals and 23 assists and earned All-Division and All-Suffolk County honors in 2011. He made the Long Island Rising Junior Showcase team and the Peak 200 All-Star team. He was also named a captain for Eastort South Manor for the 2012 season.
This year Prokesch helped Eastport South Manor reach the Suffolk County semifinals where it fell to Shoreham Wading River, 12-10.
Prokesch has a 3.8 GPA and takes all AP and Honors courses. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Principals Honor Roll. He also was a Scholar Athlete for lacrosse and football.
He plans to study Business at Delaware, coached by veteran mentor Bob Shillinglaw. The 34-year coach led the Blue Hens to their second straight Colonial Athletic Association title in 2011.
“Not only was I impressed with the winning lacrosse program that coaches Shillinglaw and (Greg) Carroll have developed, I was equally impressed with the campus and what the University has to offer,” Prokesch said.
“The campus has a southern feel to it, some of the buildings were designed by Thomas Jefferson and everything seemed so welcoming.”
Prokesch has high expectations for the 2012 scholastic season.
“I thought our team had a great season in 2011,” he said. “We overcame some key injuries and fought through adversity. We graduated six seniors that greatly contributed to the team but return three All-County offensive players and one All-County defensive player.
“Next year I think we are capable of (winning) a Suffolk County championship because we have a good returning core and have a great JV team coming up. Our goalie has been playing well, and our coaches (Kevin Huff and Dan Luciano) are doing a great job improving our skills and teaching the offense and defense in the off-season.”
