FOLSOM, Pa. (Oct. 8, 2009) – The Rutgers men's lacrosse team will participate in the Third Annual Nick Colleluori Classic Saturday morning at the Ridley High School Athletic Complex in Folsom, Pa.

This year's event will be held on the weekend of Oct. 10-11. Division I teams will compete on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Division III teams will participate on Sunday, Oct. 11. Competition each day will begin at 9:00 a.m. Each team will compete in two matches.

Rutgers will be joined on Saturday by the University of Detroit Mercy, Drexel, Hofstra, Lafayette, Mount St. Mary, UMBC, University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's and fellow BIG EAST squad Villanova.

Rutgers will square off with the University of Pennsylvania at 9 a.m. on the stadium field, followed by Drexel at 11 a.m. on the grass field.

"The Nick Collelouri Classic provides our team with an opportunity not only to compete against quality competition but to support an important cause," said Rutgers head coach Jim Stagnitta. "Throughout the year, our players are involved in different public service programs both in the community and at the university. This play day is a unique opportunity to play lacrosse and at the same time raise cancer awareness."

Stagnitta is entering his eighth season in leading the Scarlet Knights. Last season, RU finished with a 4-11 record. The Scarlet Knights return eight starters from last year's squad, including 2009 First-Team All-ECAC selection senior Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.)

The Quakers are under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Murphy. Murphy joins Penn after spending the past seven years at Haverford College. Last season, the Quakers finished with a 5-8 overall record. The squad returns 17 lettermen, including seven starters.

First-year head coach Brian Voelker leads the Dragons. Voelker was the head coach at Penn for the past seven seasons. Last season, the Dragons finished with a 7-8 record.

Colleluori was a 2004 graduate of Ridley High School and lacrosse player for Hofstra University. He fought a relentless battle against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Nick lost his battle on Nov. 28, 2006 at the age of 21.

The HEADstrong Foundation is dedicated to Nick's life. During his 14-month battle which included chemotherapy, a stem-cell transplant and extensive radiation treatment, it was Nick's vision to establish this foundation to raise awareness and help others affected by this disease.

The HEADstrong Foundation hosted the First Annual Nick Colleluori Classic in October 2007 and was successful in generating more than $75,000 towards blood cancer research. Last year, the foundation raised more than $150,000 towards blood cancer research and a family assistance program.

Each team will be assigned an "Honorary Captain," someone who is recovering from blood cancer or battling blood cancer.

"The chance to take part in this event and the fact that Nick was one of our own is the perfect way to conclude our fall season," said Stagnitta. "We look forward to doing our part to make October 10th another successful day for the Headstrong Foundation."

To learn more about the HEADstrong Foundation, please visit their website at www.HEADstrongfoundation.org

* * * *

The UDM men's lacrosse team has been hard at work this fall and now the Titans will get a chance to see how their training and conditioning is going as Detroit will play two exhibition games at the 3rd Annual Nick Colleluori Classic tomorrow.

1 2    Next  »

2009-10-09