WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College men's lacrosse team will welcome nine incoming freshmen for the 2013 season, making up what Head Coach Josh Blumenthal believes could be the strongest recruiting class in program history.

The incoming class includes Michael Emanuelson (Silver Lake, N.H.), Morgan Ford (Smyrna, Ga.), Jack O'Brien (Milton, Mass.), Andrew O'Reilly (Nashua, N.H.), Brendan Moran (Framingham, Mass.), Nicky Rodrigo (Miami, Fla.), Joshua St. Thomas (Coconut Creek, Fla.), Bayen Sulzman (Worcester, Mass.), Zach Roy (Saugus, Mass.)

Hailing from four states, as local as Framingham to Miami, Fla., the incoming class features four midfielders, two attackmen, two defenders and a goalie. Blumenthal attributes the recent recruiting expansion to the appeal of the College and the athletics department as a whole.

"With a solid group of young men and skilled lacrosse players, my first-ever recruiting class looks to be a talented one," Blumenthal stated. "With the returning talent and the addition of this recruiting class, we will hopefully have the edge needed to reach our goal of succeeding in both the New England Collegiate and Pilgrim League Conferences."

Emanuelson, a defender from Silver Lake, will bring his defensive skills south. A multiple team varsity letter-winner, he will be called upon early in his collegiate career to add some strength to an already stringent defensive unit.

A three-sport athlete, LSM Ford joins the Pride after a successful senior season at Campbell High School that saw him garner both school and county awards in football while also lettering in wrestling and captaining the lacrosse team.

A talented faceoff midfielder, O'Brien will fill one of the team's largest voids last season at the faceoff X. A hockey and lacrosse player, the Milton, Mass. resident was part of the Division 1 boys' hockey state finalist while also garnering his high schools' 2012 Lacrosse Most Valuable Player award.

A member of the 2012 New Hampshire high school state championship squad O'Reilly was part of an 18-3 Bishop Guertin team. His offensive skills will be put to the test almost immediately as he looks to help bolster the Pride's attack and their goal per game average.

In addition he comes to Weston after receiving the Presidential Catholic Scholarship.
Moran, the lone goalie in the class of 2016, kept the cage for Framingham High School and helped lead the team to the second round of the state playoffs with a terrific goal against average during his senior campaign. He will challenge for a starting spot in his first season of wearing the Cardinal and Gold.

The Miami Herald Boys Lacrosse County Player of the Year, Rodrigo will make the longest trek of any freshman. A force on the offensive front for the Christopher Columbus Explorers, he helped lead his team to back-to-back district titles and regional playoff appearances while placing among the leaders in points in South Florida with 62 goals and 26 assists on the attack side of the ball.

Also hailing from Florida is Joshua St. Thomas, who will return to the playing field after sitting out his senior season with an injury. His size, speed and hustle will be welcomed additions to the Pride midfield line on both sides of the ball.

Sulzman, a midfielder from St. Peter Marian High School in Worcester, was recently selected for the North-South All-Star Game where he recorded an assist. A smart and quick midfielder, Sulzman has the ability to move the ball well in transition and settle the offense.

A midfielder from Saugus Mass., Roy recently capped his high school career with a slew of honors in multiple sports, including partaking in the Harry Agganis Lacrosse All-Star Game. A tough and gritty player, he will work hard to gain groundballs and push the tempo and flow.