Aug. 28, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; August 28, 2008 - The Penn State Nittany Lion lacrosse team has received lofty national recognition for what is considered one of the nation's top recruiting classes. Inside Lacrosse Magazine ranks Penn State's class No. 5 among all Division I institutions. Eight new faces are highlighted in the incoming contingent.
Matt Mackrides (Newtown Square, Pa.), younger brother of former Nittany Lion stand-out Andrew Mackrides, comes to Penn State as one of the nation's top recruits. One of three Under Armour All-Americans in the class, Mackrides was a two-time high school All-American at Malvern Prep, a three-time All-State selection and the EPSLA Player of the Year in 2008. He was a member of the USA Under-19 World Championship team that claimed the world title this past summer. At 5-10, 180-pounds, Mackrides looks to be a factor on attack for Penn State.
Steven Rastivo (South Setauket, N.Y.) was also an Under Armour All-American for Ward Melville High School as one of the nation's top recruits. The talented 5-10, 160-pound goalie, was a high school All-American, a three-time all-league selection, a two-time All-Suffolk County pick and won a Long Island Empire team gold medal. Rastivo's play in the Under Armour All-American game earned him game Most Valuable Player laurels this past summer as well.
Conrad Ridgway (Audubon, Pa.), a 5-10, 185-pound midfielder, is also considered on of the country's top newcomers. The Nittany Lions' third Under Armour All-American was a high school All-American and a two-time All-State pick at LaSalle Collegiate High School. He earned first team all-league laurels three times as well.
Alex Gannett (Downingtown, Pa.) is a 6-1, 190-pound defender from Downingtown East High School. Gannett was a high school All-American and a two-time all-state pick and a three-time all-league selection.
Mike Vandergrift (Jenkintown, Pa.) comes to Penn State from Abington High School. The 6-1, 195-pound, midfielder earned all-state honors twice while at Abington in addition to being a three-time all-league pick.
Ryan McGarvey (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.), a 6-1, 205-pound, defender was a two-time all-league pick in lacrosse at William Penn Charter School as well as an all-league defensive end for the school's football team.
Ryan Link (Englewood, Colo.) comes to Penn State from Cherry Creek High School in Colorado. Link was an all-league selection twice for CCHS. The 6-4, 190-pound, attacker was also an all-league basketball player.
Billy Davis (Berwyn, Pa.), a 6-3, 215-pounde defender, comes to Penn State from Millersville University where he enrolled last year to play football for the Marauders. Davis was an all-league lacrosse player at Conestoga High School and earned all-league honors in football three times.
Princeton earned Inside Lacrosse's top ranking, followed by Virginia, Maryland, Syracuse and Penn State. North Carolina, Georgetown, Navy, Albany and Denver rounded out the top ten.
Penn State will take part in two October tournaments this fall as well as hosting its annual Alumni game. Penn State will take part in the Blue Jay Classic on October 5 in Baltimore, the Colleluori Classic in Morton, Pa., on October 11, and hosts its Alumni Game on Friday, October 17.
