LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Ed Stephenson has announced the addition of 13 newcomers to join the River Hawks for the 2017 season.
 
Stephenson's third recruiting class spans the field as he welcomes seven student-athletes on offense with Brandon Beland (Granite Bay, Calif.), Isaac Bot (Calgary, Alberta), Daniel Cozzi (Reading, Mass.), Brett Dattilo (Derry, N.H.), Bryce Holak (Duluth, Minn.), Joe Nutting (Amherst, N.H.), and Dylan Rhatigan (Holbrook, N.Y.), in addition to five defensemen: Cameron Hult (Nashua, N.H.), William Lafferty (West Seneca, N.Y.), Kyle Shanahan (Holbrook, N.Y.), Stephen Bernabei (Windham, N.H.), Colin Kasner (Crofton, Md.) and goalie Tyler Canto (Billerica, Mass.).
 
"The great part about building this team from scratch is we get to see magnificent improvements in each of our first four years," said Stephenson. "This recruiting class is no exception, these young men are seasoned, competitive, and several are talented enough to compete right away. They are committed to our high standards of academic excellence, and they share our goal of becoming nationally prominent."
 
"It is noticeable while reading these quotes that we've concentrated on a specific style of play. We've been looking to play an up tempo style, similar to this past year's Brown team, but there is a certain skill set and proficiency required. The areas where we can spark transition are on the defensive end of the field and at faceoffs. We were also looking for skilled and creative offensive players to capitalize on these transition opportunities".   
 

RIVER HAWK MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER PROFILES
 
Name: Brandon Beland

Hometown/ High School: Granite Bay, Calif./ Granite Bay High School
Position: Attack
Height:  6'1 Weight: 235
Club Team: Aces
Major: Business Finance
 
High School: Three-year varsity player at Granite Bay High … Notched 29 goals and 16 assists for 45 points in his senior season and recorded 118 goals and 110 assists for 228 points in 59 career games ... Attackman of the Year, All-Conference Honorable Mention, Scholar-Athlete and team captain in his senior year … four-time Academic Honor Roll selection… Granite Bay all-time leader in goals, assists and points per game. Granite Bay High single-season points per game leader … First-Team All-League, Scholar-Athlete and Attackman of the Year as a junior … All-League Honorable Mention sophomore year … named Defensive Lineman of the Year in football as a freshman. 
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because it is a phenomenal school educationally, and it is a new Division 1 Lacrosse program where I have an opportunity to immediately compete and contribute to an exciting new beginning for the sport. I was very impressed with Coach Stephenson and his vision of what this team could be and wanted to be a part of his journey. In addition to all of this, my father grew up in Lowell and attended UMass Lowell and his family still presides in the immediate area so this offered me a great comfort even though I would be 3,000 miles from home."
 
Stephenson on Beland: "He has size and finesse, a rare combination, and he combines them very well. He has good vision, soft hands, and works the two-man game really well. A strong student, I expect great things from Brandon."
 
 
Stephen Bernabei

Hometown/ High school: Windham, N.H./ Windham High School
Position: Defense
Height: 6'0 Weight: 205
Club Team: NH Tomahawks
Major: Undeclared/ Liberal Arts
 
High School: Four-year varsity starter … named senior lacrosse captain … two-time New Hampshire Division II Defensive Player of the Year (junior and senior year) … tabbed First-Team All-State as a junior and senior … member of the National Honor Society.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "Because of the great academic opportunity and chance to play DI lacrosse."
 
Stephenson on Bernabei: "Stephen is gifted on both ends of the field, which will allow us to create more transition opportunities. He is very strong and rangy, and he can be explosive in transition. A fine student, he's a strong addition to our academic profile."
 
 
Isaac Bot

Hometown/ High School: Calgary, Alberta/William Aberhart High School
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6'3" Weight: 200
Club Team: Calgary Mustangs/ Mountaineers Jr. A Box Lacrosse
Major: Business
 
High School: Named Adrenaline All-Star for Team San Diego as a senior … Drafted No. 1 by the Mountaineers Box Lacrosse Jr. A Team in his junior year … His Hornets Midget A Box Lacrosse Team won Provincials in his sophomore year … Hornets Midget A Box Lacrosse won Cities and Provincials in his freshman season … Honor Roll student in all four years of High School.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "It offers the program I want to pursue with great facilities. Also a great coaching staff with teammates I previously knew who had great things to say."
 
Stephenson on Bot: "Isaac is a bright student, and he's very creative on the field. He has good vision, stick skills, poise and body control, which are the hallmarks of creativity. I'm looking forward to working with him."
 
 
Tyler Canto

Hometown/ High School: Billerica, Mass./ Billerica High School
Position: Goalie
Height:  6'5 Weight: 245
Club Team: Laxchusetts Boston
Major: Undecided
 
High School: Three-year varsity lacrosse starter at Billerica … Captain in his senior season … named Agganis All-Star, Lowell Sun All-Star, Boston Lax All-American, Boston Herald All-Scholastic, All-Conference, Second-Team Mass Super Team in his senior season … named Boston Herald All Scholastic, Boston Globe All-Star, Lowell Sun All-Star and Second Team All-American in his junior year … Recorded 242 saves in his senior season (63% save%) … helped lead his team to the fourth best overall record in Billerica High history … Three-Time Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star (2014, 2015, 2016) … Ranks second all-time in saves (785) and wins (47) at Billerica High School.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "The opportunity to play for a young program and make it better was intriguing to me, as well as the great academics the university provides."
 
Stephenson on Canto: "Tyler adds a unique style and body type to our goalie contingent. This will not only be advantageous for our defense, but it will be a positive and challenging aspect for our shooters.  I'm looking forward to seeing him continue his success in the classroom."
 
 
Daniel Cozzi

Hometown/ High School: Reading, Mass./ Reading High School
Position: Attack
Height:  5'10 Weight: 155
Club Team: Warrior Elite
Major: Business
 
High School: Four-year varsity player at Reading High … All-American in his senior season with 118 points … captained lacrosse team junior and senior year … Middlesex league MVP and All-Star as a junior … helped lead Reading High to a 22-1 record … club team won the 2016 NXT Summer Invitational … lead team with 96 points (44g, 52a) sophomore year.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because its excellent balance between academics and athletics."
 
Stephenson on Cozzi: "Dan has very good vision, anticipation, skills, and poise. These traits will allow him to develop and assimilate quickly."
 
 
Brett Dattilo

Hometown/ High School: Derry, N.H./ Pinkerton Academy
Position: Midfielder/Face Off
Height:  6'0 Weight: 170
Club Team: New Hampshire Tomahawks
Major: Graphic Design
 
High School: Four-year varsity starter at Pinkerton Academy … Named NH Div. I Offensive Player of the Year and was Eagle Tribune MVP as a senior … Three-time First-Team All-State (sophomore, junior and senior year) selection … named All-American in senior and junior year … led the team in points (42g, 20a), groundballs and to a Division I lacrosse championship as a junior … honor roll student … scholar athlete (2013-2016) … Second-Team All-State in his freshman year … Named First-Team All-State in football as a junior at Pinkerton.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "Saw it as a great opportunity for me both academically and athletically."
 
Stephenson on Dattilo: "Brett is a strong student, and a very versatile lacrosse player. He has the ability to play offense or defense, and he's exceptional in the face off arena. We are looking forward to the transition opportunities, and the match up opportunities that he creates."
 
 
Bryce Holak

Hometown/ High School: Duluth, Minn./ Duluth East
Position: Attack/Midfielder
Height:  6'4 Weight: 175
Club Team: Minnesota Elite
Major: Biology
 
High School: Four-year varsity player at Duluth East … tabbed four-time All-State Lacrosse and First-Team All-Conference honors … First-Team All-Section as a senior. named All-American in lacrosse as a junior … played varsity basketball, track and field and soccer … All-Area Team Defenseman in soccer as a senior … led soccer team to a Section Champion as a junior.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "They have the academic program I am looking for and I have the opportunity to contribute to a new lacrosse program."
 
Stephenson on Holak: "Bryce is an exceptional student, and an excellent athlete. He adds size, strength and speed to our midfield position. He has the athleticism and physical maturity to compete early."
 
 
Cameron Hult

Hometown/ High School: Nashua, N.H./ Bishop Guertin High School
Position: Defense
Height: 6'4 Weight: 220
Club Team: New Hampshire Tomahawks
Major: Business
 
High School: Three-year varsity lacrosse player at Bishop Guertin … lacrosse and hockey captain as a senior … U.S. Lacrosse All-American and Div. I First-Team All-State and was a member of the team that won the Div. I State Championship in his senior year … New Hampshire state runner-up, N.H. All-State First Team, USA Today All-USA First Team, Nashua Telegraph First Team, and Gold Medal Winner at the Granit state Games junior year … led his hockey team to a Division I State Championship in  junior year.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UML as it's a great opportunity to play D1 Lacrosse for an up and coming program that has a great staff, facilities and academics."
 
Stephenson on Hult: "Cam has a great combination of knowledge, skill, size, and passion. He understands slide packages, defensive angles, and is very adept in transition. He's also an exceptional student."
 
 
Colin Kasner

Hometown/ High School: Crofton, Md./ DeMatha Catholic High School
Position: Defense
Height: 6'0 Weight: 195
Club Team: Annapolis Hawks
Major: Engineering
 
High School: Three-year starter at DeMatha Catholic High School … All-WCAC and Team MVP as a senior … broke the program record for most ground balls in a single season (131) as a senior, which led the WCAC … lead the team in groundballs and caused turnovers (senior year) … named Defensive MVP, All WCAC and Freestate Top 44 as a junior … invited to the Top Star All Star Game and Lehigh Showcase All Star Game during his junior campaign … tabbed MVP on his junior varsity squad freshman year … competed in the Top 205 All Star Game as a freshman.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "UMass Lowell is a great school with a great engineering program and business program. Coach Stephenson and Coach Kline were great on showing me and my family the school and what UMass has to offer."
 
Stephenson on Kasner: "I am most impressed with the fact that Colin broke his high school's ground ball record. To be that proficient at getting ground balls shows great anticipation, toughness, creativity, and skill. This combination will serve him well."
 
 
William Lafferty

Hometown/ High School: West Seneca, N.Y./ Canisius High School
Position: Defense
Height: 6'0 Weight: 190
Club Team: Champion Lacrosse
Major: Business
 
High School: Four-year varsity starter at Canisius High … First-Team All-Western New York, First-Team All-Catholic and Team MVP as a senior. two-year lacrosse team captain … named First Team All-Catholic and team Defensive Player of the Year as a junior … received Second-Team All-Catholic (sophomore year) … honor student throughout high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "It is the perfect size and fit, and it offers top programs in the majors I want to study while having a growing lacrosse team with a lot of opportunity and potential."
 
Stephenson on Lafferty: "Bill has proven to be a rugged, strong, and relentless defender. An exceptional student, I'm looking forward to working with him."
 
 
Joe Nutting

Hometown/ High School: Amherst, N.H./ Souhegan High School
Position: Attack
Height:  6'2 Weight: 175
Club Team: New Hampshire Tomahawks
Major: Undeclared Liberal Arts
 
High School: Four-year varsity starter at Souhegan High … lacrosse captain junior and senior year … First-Team All-State as a senior and junior … led New Hampshire in scoring with 101 points junior year … with 55 points, led New Hampshire in scoring sophomore year … Junior Hockey Leading scorer (N.H. Junior Monarchs) … AAA U18 Hockey State Champion as a junior ... four-years of varsity hockey.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I loved the coaching staff at UML as well as being close enough to home to be able to visit, but also far enough away to experience a new chapter of my life"
 
Stephenson on Nutting: "Joe is a great student, and a highly creative athlete. Possessing good vision, stick skills, and poise, Joe will fit right in."
 
 
Dylan Rhatigan

Hometown/ High School: Holbrook, N.Y./ Sachem North High School
Position: Attack
Height:  5'8 Weight: 165
Club Team: Sachem North
Major: Mathematics
 
High School: Four-year varsity player at Sachem North High … All-Division in his senior year … four-time Suffolk Country Rising Player … participated in the U15 ESPN National Games.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell for the great coaching staff and good education."
 
Stephenson on Rhatigan: "Dylan is a fine student, and a fierce competitor. I'm looking forward to seeing him take the next step. He brings some unique skills to the table and I'm anxious to see what parts of the field and what offensive tactics suit him best."
 
 
Kyle Shanahan

Hometown/ High School: Holbrook, N.Y./ Sachem East High School
Position: Defense
Height:  6'2 Weight: 195
Club Team: Sachem East Club
Major: Engineering
 
High School: Four-year varsity player and three-year starter at Sachem East High School … Notched 43 ground balls and 19 takeaways and was team captain senior year … Received Team Spirit Award and Captains Award as a senior … named NYSPHHA scholar athlete as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of it's amazing campus life, academic programs, and great coaching. From the moment I stepped on campus I knew UML was home for me."
 
Stephenson on Shanahan: "Kyle is an exceptional student, and demonstrates great leadership qualities. He is a very hard worker, an excellent communicator, and a physically imposing defender."