University of North Carolina Athletics
Four Tar Heels Invited To U.S. National Team Tryouts
May 4, 2005 | Men's Lacrosse
May 4, 2005
BALTIMORE, MD. - US Lacrosse has announced the 120 players that have been invited to try out for the 2006 U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team. The list includes four current and former players from the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse program.
Attackman Jed Prossner, '05, midfielder Jeff Sonke, '01, goalkeeper Billy Daye, '93, and rising senior defenseman Stephen McElduff (Yorktown, N.Y.) have all been invited to the tryouts.
A total of 30 attackmen, 42 midfielders, 36 defensemen and 12 goalies were invited to participate by the 2006 U.S. Team Men's Player Selection Committee, chaired by three-time U.S. team player Larry Quinn. The players were selected from a field of approximately 200 applicants.
The tryouts will be held from June 13-16 at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and 23 players will be selected from those tryouts to represent the United States at the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships in July 2006 in London, Ontario.
Prossner recently finished his senior campaign as the second-leading goal scorer in Tar Heel history with 113. An Easton, Md. native, Prossner also finished tied with Mac Ford for seventh in career points at 172. Sonke, a Birmingham, Mich. native who now plays professionally for the Baltimore Bayhawks, finished with 102 career goals at UNC, the sixth highest total in UNC history which was matched this season by UNC senior Mike McCall.
McElduff is one of the nation's top defenders and this season was a pre-season second-team All-America as tapped by Face-Off Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Billy Dayewas the starting goalkeeper for UNC in 1992 and 1993 on teams which went to the NCAA semifinals and finals. He now competes for the Commonwealth Lacrosse Club in Massachusetts.
"Expect to see almost all scrimmaging," said Quinn. "Guys will be randomly put on teams. Later on, if the committee wants to see certain match-ups or see how certain guys play together, they'll do that."
All members of the 2002 U.S. Men's Team, which defeated Canada to win its sixth consecutive ILF Championship, are automatically granted a tryout if they desire one and 12 players will be attempting to make the U.S. team for the second straight time. Trying out from the 2002 team are Ryan Boyle and Michael Powell on attack; Kevin Cassese, Doug Shanahan and Matt Striebel at midfield; John Glatzel, Michael Howley, Tim Knowles, Ryan McClay, Ryan Mollett and Todd Rassas on defense; and Trevor Tierney at goalie. Adam Doneger and Nick Polanco, alternates for the 2002 team, were also invited.
Additionally, five members of the 1998 U.S. Team--attackmen Jesse Hubbard and Casey Powell, midfielder Blake Miller, defenseman Pat McCabe and goalie Brian Dougherty--received invitations.
Syracuse head coach John Desko is the head coach for the 2006 U.S. Men's Team. He will be assisted by Denison's Mike Caravana, Hobart's Matt Kerwick and Albany's Scott Marr.
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse.
