By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/8/11
St. Augustine Prep (N.J.) rising junior midfielder Mike Sutton has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Penn State University.
Sutton, who plays for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club, scored 50 goals and led the Hermits to the finals of the New Jersey Non-Public A state tournament where they fell to Delbarton, 10-4. St. Augustine finished 17-5 overall.
Sutton, who played last weekend in the Under Armour Underclassmen Games for New Jersey, plans to major in Kinesiology and become a physical therapist.
“I love the atmosphere at Penn State and they have a curriculum that fits my (intended) major,” he said.
Sutton was impressed with how first-year coach Jeff Tambroni helped make the Nittany Lions (7-7, ranked in Top 20 much of year) the most improved team in Division I this year.
“From the first time I sat down with (Tambroni) I can see how he wants everyone to get better,” said Sutton. “I am always looking to get better, so this is the place to better myself.”
Sutton also made the Gait Fab 40 team last November at the Philly Showcase and has competed at the Nike Blue Chip Camp for two years. He also was listed on the Inside Lacrosse Young Guns Rising Sophomores Watchlist last summer
This year St., Augustine Prep claimed wins over Penn Charter and saluisbury (CT). The Hermits will return most of its team for 2012.
“We wanted to go back to the state finals and win it this year, but we just didn’t’ finish,” he said. “We weren’t clicking that day. But they had the experience and next year we will only have to replace one player so we’ll be stronger.”
