NEWTON, Mass – The Mount Ida College lacrosse team will welcome 14 new players to the class of 2017, and all of them will play an integral and immediate role this season.
The incoming class is made up of 13 freshman and one transfer from Division II American International College.
The class is comprised of midfielders John Berry (Chichester, N.H.), Wyatt Sullivan (Arlington, Mass.), Corey Eugster (Upton, Mass.), Cole Davis (Chester, N.H.), Ryan Trinque (East Greenwich, R.I.), Matt Wilson (Salem, N.H.) and transfer Nate Barron (Northampton, Mass./American International College), while the attack unit is made up of Chad Coelho (Salem, Mass.), Peter Hardy (Tyngsboro, Mass.), and Shane Flaherty (Halifax, Mass.). The defensive side of the group is made up of lone defender, Alex Veloukas (Salem, Mass.) and goaltenders Tyler McElreath (Upton, Mass.), Kevin Nguyen (Salem, Mass.) and Tommy Thompson (Schuylerville, N.Y.). Hailing from four states, each player brings something different to the program.
"Bringing in a class as deep and talented as this group, combined with the returning student athletes, puts us right back in the hunt to compete for another GNAC championship right away," said 12th year Head Coach Andrew Fink.
John Berry, Bishop Brady's 2012 Team Offensive Player of the year, is coming off an impressive high school career in which he captained the team and tallied 128 points in his senior season on his way to being named all state. Berry was also the recipient of the 2013 Matty Demaine scholarship.
Wyatt Sullivan, who played his scholastic lacrosse at local Arlington High School, was a 2013 team captain and four year varsity starter. In 2013, Sullivan totaled 53 points on his way to being named the Offensive MVP of the Middlesex league and a member of the conference All Star Team. A member of the Top Gun Clams, Wyatt scored the game winning goal in the longest game in Massachusetts high school lacrosse history last year against conference foe Woburn.
Corey Eugster is one of two new faces from Nipmuc High School in this freshman class. Eugster was a member of the 2011 Mid Mass Championship team. The Warriors won their first ever playoff game in Corey's senior season.
Cole Davis, who played at New Hampshire powerhouse Pinkerton Academy, was a 2013 New Hampshire State Finalist as a member of the Astros. Davis's older brother Jake, class of 2013, was a four year letter winner for the Mustangs.
Ryan Trinque hails from Rhode Island and was a member of three time state champion East Greenwich H.S. Trinque is expected to split time between both the midfield and the attack units this coming spring.
Matt Wilson is one of four freshman hailing from Salem High School. Wilson is a face-off specialist who is also looked upon to bolster the midfield. Wilson was Salem High's team MVP in 2013. He totaled 51 points and a face-off percentage of 65% on his way to being named an NEC South Face-Off specialist of the year, as well as a member of the 2013 Agganis All Star game.
Nate Barron, the lone transfer in the group, comes to Mount Ida from Division II American International College. Nate, who missed last season due to injury, is back to bring depth to the Mustang midfield. He played his high school lacrosse with fellow sophomore Jay Messer (class of 2016) at Northampton High School under Coach Matt Striebel, and was a member of the 413 lacrosse club.
Chad Coelho, another member of the Salem High School class of 2013, had an accomplished career for the Witches in which he scored 129 points in his senior year. Chad was a three-time NEC All Star, NEC Offensive MVP, and a played in the 2013 Agganis All Star game with fellow freshman and high school teammate Matt Wilson.
Shane Flaherty was a four year varsity member at Silver Lake High School. A three sport Varsity athlete all four years, he was named a Patriot League All Star his senior season.
Peter Hardy was a member of Bishop Guertin's class of 2010. After taking a few years off to work, Hardy is back and looking to contribute immediately to the attack unit. Peter was a member of two New Hampshire State Championship teams. He won the Coaches Award his senior year at B.G. and was an All State Honorable Mention his junior year.
Alex Veloukas was a 2013 captain at Salem High School and was named his team's Defensive MVP in 2012.
Tyler McElreath comes to Mount Ida from Nipmuc High School where he captained the Warriors as a Senior. McElreath was a two-time Mid Mass B team selection in his Junior and Senior years and was named Honorable Mention as a sophomore, when Nipmuc captured their first Mid Mass League Title.
Kevin Nguyen was a two year letter winner at Salem High School and three year member of the Witches wrestling program. Nguyen was named the Coaches Award winner last season.
Tommy Thompson, the lone member of this group to hail from New York, was a four year member of the varsity Lacrosse team at Schuylerville High School. Thompson led his team to a 2013 Wasaren League Championship after going 15-3 in goal. He was named 2013 Wasaren League First Team, as well as a second team member in 2012. He was the Saratogian Athlete of the week for the week of May 16th, 2013.
The Mustangs open up the 2014 season at home on February 26th against Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) member Salve Regina University at 3:30p.m.