Notre Dame coach Kevin Corrigan has begun reeling in one of his best recruiting classes in his 17th season as the face of the lacrosse program.
Though the recruiting class of 2010 will not be finalized until the end of the April late signing period, Corrigan announced Monday that the Irish have inked nine new contributors for next season, all of whom were "very heavily recruited," the coach said Monday.
The class includes three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen from four different states, complementing the upcoming departure of this year's senior class (two defensemen, five midfielders, one attackman, one goalie).
"We're really excited about this class," Corrigan said. "It's deep. We've got quality and quantity."
In addition, Corrigan said this class' athleticism separates it from past groups, calling it "the most athletic class we've ever gotten," pointing to the incoming players' accomplishments in multiple high school sports.
Eight of them received a variety of all-conference and all-state honors in other sports.
Three of next year's incoming freshmen will arrive from talent-rich New York.
Matt Ciambella is an attackman who captained Western New York powerhouse Orchard Park to two state semifinals appearances.
Midfielder Kelly McKenna captained his Penfield High School team his junior and senior years, as well as captaining the Western Empire Team in 2004 and 2005, where he played alongside Ciambella to a 2005 bronze medal.
Midfielder Brett Vecchio was an all-county winner his sophomore and juniors seasons at Cold Spring Harbor High School and was an alternate to the Long Island Empire Lacrosse teams.
From Maryland, Corrigan nabbed midfielder Grant Krebs - who earned Maryland Freestate Team honors as a sophomore - and 6-foot-6 defenseman Chip Lanser.
Pennsylvania produced two signees, Malvern Prep defenseman Mike Creighton and Central Bucks East midfielder Adam Felicetti (Doylestown).
Felicetti's junior season produced a team high 41 groundballs, 14 assists (third most on team) and 27 goals, earning him a first-team all-Intelligencer spot from the local newspaper - not to mention Intelligencer "Player of the Year" honors as a wide receiver and safety in football.
Defensemen Sean Callinan comes to Notre Dame after a post-graduate year at Deerfield Academy (Massachusetts).
Neal Hicks is the lone commitment south of the mid-Atlantic and New England lacrosse hotbeds, but the attackman from the Lovett School in Atlanta, Ga. is one of the most important pieces of the class.
Hicks led his team to state titles in his sophomore and junior seasons - scoring 83 points on 48 goals and 35 assists and collecting 75 groundballs in his All-American junior campaign.
Though the Irish will lose second-team preseason All-America attacker Pat Walsh at the end of the year, Corrigan believes the new class will contribute immediately offensively.
"They're quarterbacks on their football teams and point guards on their basketball teams," Corrigan said. "We're getting guys with a presence and playmaking ability, guys who want the ball in their hands."
"And we're not finished yet."
In addition to the nine announced commitments, Will Yeatman from Rancho Bernardo High School in Poway, Calif., is expected to sign with the class and play lacrosse and football at Notre Dame. But due to NCAA rules, Corrigan cannot comment on a recruit until he signs a letter of intent.
