Fairfield, CT (August 19, 2008) – Head Coach Tom Mariano has announced the Sacred Heart men's lacrosse team's incoming recruiting class. When the Pioneers take to the field for workouts this fall they will welcome 19 new faces to their squad. The group includes three attackers, eight midfielders, seven defensemen and one goaltender.

Leading the new Pioneer attack group is Eric Madigan (Ashburn, VA). A team captain and team MVP at Broad Run High School, he finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer. Madigan was a 2007-08 All-American, a three-time All-Dulles District selection and twice earned First Team All-Virginia Region II and Washington Post All-Metro Honorable Mention. Madigan was named the Dulles District Player of the Year in 2007 and was selected to the Dulles District All-Academic team in 2008. He participated in the National Senior Showcase game as a member of the South squad.

Also joining the attack for the red and white is Tom Whitfield (Levittown, NY). Whitfield played for MacArthur High School where he was a team captain was the offensive team MVP during his senior season. He was an All-Conference selection in 2007 and an All-County Honorable Mention in 2008. Whitfield also played for his school's football team. During his senior season he was the recipient of the Anthony Abatemarco Award for dedication, team spirit and sportsmanship.

The leading goal scorer for Brewster High School and New York State Section 1 in 2008, Matt King (Brewster, NY) is the final new attacker for Sacred Heart. King was selected to Hudson Valley Empire Team for the summer of 2007 and was an All-Section and All-League selection during his senior season.

A pair of New Jersey prospects highlight the incoming defense core for the Pioneers. A starting defenseman for the three-time New Jersey Group IV State Champions, Sean Bisoli (Flemington, NJ) was a First-Team Skyland Conference and All-Area Courier News selection in 2008. He also a Pitt Division Honorable Mention player twice was named the 2008 Hunterdon Defenseman of the Year. Bisoli participated in the 2007 Garden State Games and also was a varsity letter-winner for the 2007 Group IV state champion football team. Another New Jersey native, John Gabrielski (Martinsville, NJ) was a two team captain for Bridgewater-Raritan and a 2007 All-Division, All-Area, All-Conference. During his senior season he won the Panthers Lacrosse Award for character.

James Bassett (Berwyn, PA) was a four sport standout in Lacrosse, Football, Basketball and Baseball at Conestoga High School. He was the Team MVP for defense senior year. He earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and three in football as a quarterback and wide receiver, earning all Central league honorable mention as a senior. In Lacrosse Bassett earned All Main Line, All Central League and All Chester County honors.

A three sport standout at Cardinal Newman High School Rock Tate (Lantana, FL) was the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2007-2008. He served as team captain for lacrosse and was the winner of the Newman Alumni Award for Character, Integrity and Skill in 2008. Tate was a 3rd Team South Florida All-League and US Lacrosse All-District second team selection as a senior. Tate also was a team MVP for the school's football and basketball teams, and an all-league and all-area honoree in football

Also joining the Pioneer defense this fall is Adam Rivers (Watertown, NY). A three-time Frontier League "A" Division All-Star, River was part of the 2004 Frontier League Champions. Rivers spent the last two years at Onondaga Community College where he was a Mid-State Athletic Conference All-League selection twice and was part of the Onondaga CC National Championship Team in 2007, as well as an Academic All-American.

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2008-08-19