LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Ed Stephenson announced the addition of 13 newcomers to the River Hawks for the 2018 season.
 
The 13 newcomers mark Stephenson's fourth recruiting class and includes eight student-athletes on offense with Domenic Giachello (Somers, Conn.), Gus Gobiel (Billerica, Mass.), Cameron Kranich (Hamden, Conn.), Kyle Laforge (Tyingsboro, Mass.), Jake Lining (Rochester, Mich.), Ryan Morley (Hamden, Conn.), Harrison Morrill (Hyde Park, Mass.), Jacob Zablocki (Dudley, Mass.), as well as three defensemen: Jack Hinken (Zeeland, Mich.), Cameron Richard (Derry, N.H.), Tyler Ward (Millersville, Md.) and goalies Hunter Thomas Braun (Hartland, Mich.) and Connor Laird (Austin, Texas). After a walk-on tryout, freshman Mike Pigeon (Canton, Mass.) secured a spot on the 2018 roster, as well.
 
"This is our most athletic and talented class thus far, but most importantly they are exceptional students," elated Stephenson. "I'm so proud of these guys, they have distinguished themselves on and off the field.  Many of these student-athletes will be receiving academic scholarships as well as athletic scholarships."
 
Name: Hunter Thomas Braun
Hometown/High School: Hartland, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6'2 Weight: 270
Club Team: True Lacrosse Michigan
Major: Biology
 
High School: Four-year lacrosse player at Detroit Catholic Central … Named All-American and First Team All-State in senior campaign … Named Defensive MVP and part of State Runner-Up team in senior, junior and sophomore campaigns … Member of National Honors Society, NSHSS, and Student Activities at Detroit Catholic Central.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "UMass Lowell was the best choice for me to achieve academically and athletically."
 
Stephenson on Braun: "Hunter is a tremendous student and an exceptional goalie. He has very quick hands, reads shooters well, and has great poise in the net."
 
Name: Domenic Giachello

Hometown/High School: Somers, Conn./Somers High School
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6' Weight: 180
Club Team: Warrior Elite/Western Mass
Major: Finance
 
High School: Played soccer and lacrosse at Somers High School … Named Somers High School Athlete of the Year, All-American watch list, Hartford Courant Player of the Year, Conference MVP, State Championship MVP, and led all midfielders in state in points in senior campaign … Named First Team All-State in senior and junior campaigns … Part of lacrosse state championship team in senior and junior campaigns … Rookie of the Year in freshman campaign … Member of National Honors Society and Academic All-State in high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the coaches, team and the opportunity for success in sports and academics."
 
Stephenson on Giachello: "Dom is a great student and a spectacular midfielder.  All student-athletes at this level have good athleticism and a strong skill set, but I think Dom also brings exceptional leadership and competitive drive."
 
Name: Gus Gobiel
Hometown/High School: Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial High School

Position: Attacker/Midfielder
Height: 5'11 Weight: 175
Club Team: Laxachusetts
Major: Exercise Physiology
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Billerica Memorial High School (football, basketball, lacrosse) … Named captain in senior campaign … Named All-State Team, Lowell Sun All-Star, and Agannis All-Star in senior campaign … Named to MVC All-Conference team in senior and junior campaign … Led team in points with 95 (55-40) in senior campaign … Part of MVC Championship team in junior and sophomore campaigns … Led team in goals with 55 in junior campaign ... Honor Roll, High Honor Roll, Business DECA member and Class President in high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "The atmosphere of the campus, the coaching staff and the athletic staff and how personal everyone is at UMass Lowell. The great academics and the blue-collar mentality of the team was something I was looking for in college."
 
Stephenson on Gobiel: "I have been so impressed with Gus's development over the past three years. Aside from his strong performance in the classroom, Gus has become a dominant attackman. I love watching him play, he is always the hardest working player on the field."
 
Name: Jack Hinken

Hometown/High School: Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East High School
Position: Defender
Height: 6'5 Weight: 185
Club Team: True Michigan
Major: Mechanical Engineering
 
High School: Named to All-Area team in senior campaign … Named to All-Conference in senior, sophomore and freshman campaigns … Named Honorable Mention All-Conference in junior campaign … Named captain and to All-Area team in senior and junior campaigns … Named Scholar Athlete of the Year and to Honor Roll at Zeeland East.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I enjoyed the campus and saw the opportunity the school provided to develop as a person and enjoy a fun college experience."
 
Stephenson on Hinken: "Jack is a tremendous student and a great defender. I've enjoyed watching Jack develop and I think the sky is the limit for him. He has great range, athleticism, and I expect him to become a formidable defender."
 
Name: Cameron Kranich                                                                                                                                          

Hometown/High School: Hamden, Conn./Hamden Hall Country Day School
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6'2 Weight: 182
Club Team: N/A
Major: Business Administration
 
High School: Four-year varsity player at Hamden Hall Country Day School … Named captain in his senior year … Played football and lacrosse … Graduated with honors.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "UMass Lowell seemed like a place that I could flourish. It's a close to home school where I could be independent and experience the best that the New England area has to offer in networking and social life."
 
Stephenson on Kranich: "Cam is a fine student, and a fierce competitor. He is versatile and athletic enough to play on either end of the field."
 
Name: Kyle Laforge
Hometown/High School: Tyngsboro, Mass./Tyngsboro High School
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'9 Weight: 175
Club Team: Team Central

Major: Undeclared Liberal Arts
 
High School: Three-sport athlete at Tyngsboro High School (football, basketball, lacrosse) … Finished high school career ranked No. 12 in Massachusetts in goals scored (223), No. 2 in assists (215), and No. 6 in points (438) and finished with 834 ground balls … Led all of Central Massachusetts in assists and all of Mid-Wach in goals (58g, 66a) … Named League All-Star in senior, junior, sophomore and freshman seasons … Named captain and Team MVP in senior campaign … Three-Time Lowell Sun All-Star … 2017 Lowell Sun Player of the Year … Broke school's single-season scoring record with 131 points (72g, 59a) in junior campaign … Named League MVP in sophomore campaign … Named to Honor Roll in senior year.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I wanted to play lacrosse at a competitive and high level while also having the opportunity for a great education the University offers."
 
Stephenson on Laforge: "Kyle is a hard-working student-athlete. He has great change of direction and vision, yet I'm most impressed that he is a three-sport captain."
 
Name: Connor Laird
Hometown/High School: Austin, Texas/James Bowie High School
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5'10 Weight: 170                                                                                                                    

Club Team: Dallas Select
Major: Business
 
High School: Played four years of lacrosse at James Bowie High School … No. 1 All-Time in career saves with 693 in Texas … Unanimous First Team All-State goalie in senior campaign … Named captain in senior and sophomore campaigns while being named honorable team captain in junior campaign … Named Team MVP in senior, junior and freshman campaigns … Named Texas All-Star, All-Central Texas goalie, UNC Team Camp All-Star and Blue Chip All-Star in junior campaign … Named All-Central Texas Honorable Mention and Nike Blue Chip Honoree in sophomore campaign … Honor Student, Three-Time Trustees Award recipient and Four-Time Academic All-District in high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell for the great mix of academic prestige and athletic opportunity with the team. I saw my chance to make my mark on a growing program while getting a top-notch education."
 
Stephenson on Laird: "Connor is also a phenomenal student, and he is equally impressive on the field. He is a high-intensity guy that plays with passion and athleticism. I really enjoy watching him compete."
 
Name: Jake Lining

Hometown/High School: Rochester, Mich./Troy Athens High School
Position: Attacker
Height: 5'9 Weight: 175
Club Team: True National and True Michigan
Major: Business
 
High School: Played football and lacrosse at Troy Athens High School … Named All-American, First Team All-State, Scholar Athlete and captain in senior campaign … Two-time OAA Red Player of the Year in senior and junior campaign … Named Offensive MVP Team Award in junior and sophomore campaign … Named Second Team All-State in junior and sophomore campaign … Honorable Mention All-State in freshman campaign … Graduated Magna Cum Laude.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose to attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell because of the amazing coaching staff, players, the amazing new business school, and it is only 40 minutes from downtown Boston. I also chose the business school and the lacrosse team because it is new and growing."
 
Stephenson on Lining: "Jake is a great student and athlete. He plays with a tremendous amount of passion, and he is committed to becoming an elite attackman. He is a great teammate and loves to distribute the ball."
 
Name: Ryan Morley

Hometown/High School: Hamden, Conn./Hamden High School
Position: Attacker/Midfielder
Height: 5'9 Weight: 155
Club Team: Breakout Athlete
Major: Computer Science
 
High School: Four-sport athlete at Hamden High School (football, soccer, lacrosse, and swimming) … Became All-Time leader in points, tallied most points in a single season and game, named Team MVP in his senior campaign … Named captain in senior and junior seasons … Named to All-Academic Team and Offensive MVP in junior campaign … Received team shooter award in sophomore campaign … Achieved highest shooting percentage on team in freshman campaign … Named to All-SCC Academic Team, achieved High Honor Roll all four years of high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because the second I came onto campus, I felt like I was at home. Everyone was very friendly and I felt like I belonged instantly."
 
Stephenson on Morley: "Ryan is an honor student with tremendous athletic ability. He has very good power, but also uses subtlety and deception to create opportunities."
 
Name: Harrison Morrill
Hometown/High School: Hyde Park, Mass./Catholic Memorial
Position: Attacker
Height: 5'10 Weight: 170
Club Team: Warrior Elite
Major: Business Administration
 
High School: Played lacrosse and hockey at Catholic Memorial … Named captain of lacrosse team in senior campaign … Named All-Conference in senior and junior campaigns … Named hockey captain and All-Conference in senior campaign … Named Class Vice-President in junior year … Named Class treasurer in sophomore and freshman years … Honor Roll student in high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the brand-new business building, it was close to home and I wanted to help develop a new program.
 
Stephenson on Morrill: "I really like what Harry brings to the team, he is a selfless player, a strong student, and a tireless worker. I look forward to working with him."
 
Name: Cameron Richard
Hometown/High School: Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy/Fairfield University
Position: Defender
Height: 5'11 Weight: 190
Club Team: New Hampshire Tomahawks
Major: Business Administration
 
High School: Played football and lacrosse at Pinkerton Academy … Named captain and an Under Armour All-American in senior campaign … Named All-American in senior and junior campaign … Named All-State in senior, junior, sophomore and freshman campaign … Honors student in high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I wanted to have a successful lacrosse career and I felt like UMass Lowell gave me the best option to achieve that goal."
 
Stephenson on Richard: "I'm really looking forward to working with Cam. As a transfer, he has a little more experience than some of our incoming guys. Cam is a hard worker with very good skills."
 
Name: Tyler Ward
Hometown/High School: Millersville, Md./Severna Park
Position: Defender
Height: 6'4 Weight: 210
Club Team: 3d Mid Atlantic
Major: Business Finance
 
High School: Four-year lacrosse and basketball player at Severna Park … Named captain of lacrosse team in senior year … Named Maryland Senior All-Star, All-State in senior season … Part of State Champion lacrosse team in senior and junior campaigns … Named First Team All-County in senior and junior campaigns … Named captain of basketball team in senior and junior campaigns … Member of the National Honor Society and a Minds and Motion Athlete in high school.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I fell in love with the surrounding environment of the University and the atmosphere around the city is positive and contagious. Given the location, I'm also set up for a number of business opportunities and ventures once I graduate. Additionally, the coaching staff made me feel welcome and wanted at the school."
 
Stephenson on Ward: "Ty is a super student. He has great stick skills, tremendous range, and is a hawk in the passing lanes."
 
Name: Jacob Zablocki

Hometown/High School: Dudley, Mass./Shepherd Hill Regional High School
Position: Attacker/Midfielder
Height: 6'1 Weight: 205
Club Team: Seven Hills Lacrosse Club
Major: Criminal Justice
 
High School: Played football and lacrosse at Shepherd Hill Regional High School … Named captain, All-American, Telegram and Gazette Superteam, Team MVP, Midfielder of the Year Award in senior campaign … Achieved All-Time winning face-off percentage and most face-off wins in school history … Named First Team All-Conference, Mid-Wach All Star, and groundball award in senior, junior and sophomore campaigns … Named to Honor Roll al four years.
 
Why UMass Lowell: "I chose UMass Lowell because of the great criminal justice program and because of the outstanding coaching staff on the lacrosse team and the great strength and conditioning department."
 
Stephenson on Zablocki: "Jake is an excellent student, and I think he has the tools to become one of the best face-off guys in the game. He is strong, quick, and fast."