Left to right: Freshmen Scott Lathrop and T.J. Powell with junior Cory Bentine

May 6, 2008 - UA WELL REPRESENTED IN NCAA'S

The Upper Arlington lacrosse tradition carries on in this week's NCAA Division I and III tournaments. The Golden Bear program will send ten former players into the Div. I tournament this weekend with four playing for Ohio State in its first tourney appearance since 2004. Senior midfielder Peter Schell leads the quartet with junior Cory Bentine and freshmen Scott Lathrop and T.J. Powell giving the Buckeyes a strong UA presence.

Cornell is the Bucks opponent Saturday at 5 pm in Ithaca, New York and there might be a small reunion post-game as Big Red goalie Kyle Harer will suit up for the home team. Harer transferred to the Ivy League school after Butler shut down its program with little notice last year.

"Kyle Harer is a story that jumps out at you," UA Head Coach Ted Wolford said. "After his program folded he finds himself in an Ivy League school and a chance to play Ohio State from his hometown." Harer did play at Jesse Owens Stadium against OSU as the Butler goalie in 2006 and 2007.

The rest of the D-1 UA grads are spread throughout the field with Maryland represented by sophomore Chris Rhine and freshman Max Schmidt, who was last year's Player of the Year in Ohio. Schmidt was also chosen to play in the International Lacrosse Federation U-19 World Championships this summer in Canada.

Sean Hecker is a junior defenseman for Loyola who plays its first round game at Duke, last year's national runner-up. 2005 Golden Bear graduate Joe Dewey has already won a National Championship ring at Virginia and is back in the tournament for the Cavaliers. Dewey has won 11 of 20 faceoffs in limited duty for UVA due to injury. 12th-ranked Colgate will take a former Bear to 6th-ranked Notre Dame for its first-round game Sunday. Senior midfielder Brian Lombardo will be playing in the program's first ever post-season game. The Red Raiders are the Patriot League champs.

Wolford was disappointed for Clayton Hall and Eric Reinhardt who play at 4th-ranked Georgetown. The Hoyas finished the regular season 9-4 with an overtime loss at Penn State but claim the only victory this season over top-ranked Duke. "I feel horrible for those two, especially Clayton who is a senior. They deserved to be in."

The Div. III tournament begins Wednesday with North Coast Athletic Conference champ Denison hosting Widener. The Big Red have made great use of junior Nate Hall who has started all 15 games and is the team's fourth leading scorer
with 34 points.

Ohio Wesleyan has a trio from UA in sophomore defenseman Lee Catt and freshman goalie Jud Hall and freshman midfielder Kyle Smith. The Battling Bishops travel to Kenyon in a rematch of a regular season game won by the Lords.

"I'm awfully proud of these kids," said Wolford. "The goals that they have set on the field, some as starters andothers in back-up roles, and the commitment they have made proves they are quality individuals."