Almost a year after he was hired, UMBC lacrosse coach Don Zimmerman finally has a full class of recruits.
"I'm thrilled with this class," said Zimmerman, referring to nine players, headed by goalie Chris Brown of Anne Arundel Community College. "It has the talent we need to improve on our 7-7 record."
When Zimmerman took the job last August, it was too late to bring in recruits. Thanks to senior midfielder Jamie Batley, Zimmerman was fortunate to get one, Matt Shearer of Canada, who arrived halfway through the school year.
"Both are from Ontario," Zimmerman said. "Jamie saw Matt at a Canadian national team tryout and was impressed. We talked by phone, and he visited. He turned out to be one of our best players."
Shearer was second on the team in goals (22) and third in points (32), as the Retrievers won seven of their first 10 games, only to drop their last four to Loyola, Towson, Virginia and Maryland.
Zimmerman will build the defense around Brown, who gave a strong performance in the Final Four of the National Junior College Championships. Anne Arundel lost to Herkimer County CC in the final.
"One coach told me, 'Brown's as good as there is,' " Zimmerman said. "He'll be a junior, and it's nice to have a goalie with experience when some of the defensemen are young."
The defense recruits are David Ford of Loyola and Andrij Martyniuk and Al Hernandez of New York.
"When we saw Hernandez at the Empire State Games, we knew right away he was a Division I prospect," Zimmerman said. "Ford had a tremendous year, far exceeding our expectations. Andrij is rough and tough, a football player in high school, too. If you're building a program, you start with a goalie and defensemen."
STATE DIVISION I RECRUITS
JOHNS HOPKINS
Name, Pos., Hometown, School
A.T. Bailey, A, Corning, N.Y., Corning East
Adam Bond, A, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Pine Crest
Dan Galvagno, M, Syracuse, N.Y., West Genesee
Andrew Godfrey, M, Manhasset, N.Y., Manhasset
Bobby Healey, A, Lynbrook, N.Y., Lynbrook
Jordan Jayson, D, Getzville, N.Y., Avon Old Farms (Conn.)
Kevin Kaiser, M, Cockeysville, Loyola
Eric Kuchner, G, Setaukey, N.Y., Ward Melville
Stewart Macon, M, Baltimore, Gilman
Jeff Saylor, A, Mountain Lakes, N.J., Mountain Lakes
Dylan Schlott, A, Owings Mills, Gilman
Tod Winchester, M, Galesville Severn
LOYOLA
John Augst, A, Fairfax, Va., Paul VI
Kirk Blagrove, D, Farmingdale, N.Y., Nassau CC
Jim Brown, G, Davidsonville, St. Mary's
Mike Day, D, Potomac, Landon
Dennis DeBusschere, M, Garden City, N.Y., Garden City
Keith Euker, A, Timonium, Loyola
Chris Georgalas, A, Mahopac, N.Y., Mahopac
Eric Gervais, M, Reston, Va., Chantilly
Jourdan Kurtz, D, Simsbury, Conn., Westminster (Conn.)
Tim O'Hara, D, Severna Park, Loyola
Tim O'Shea, A, Camillus, N.Y., West Genesee
Todd Vizcarrondo, M, Davidsonville, St. Mary's
MARYLAND
Mike Christy, D, Long Island, N.Y., Walt Whitman
Matt Hahn, A, Rockville, Georgetown Prep
Bob Hanna, A, Annapolis, Broadneck
Ryan Hughes, M, Annapolis, St. Mary's
Sean Keenan, G, Brooklandville, St. Paul's
Chris Nohe, M, Towson, Calvert Hall
Frank Radin, M, Long Island, N.Y., Kellenberg
Brian Reese, D, Brooklandville, St. Paul's
Bill Ruhl, M, Brooklandville, St. Paul's
Bill Siciliano, M, Timonium, Dulaney
Andrew Whipple, A, Rochester, N.Y., Irondequoit
MOUNT ST. MARY'S
Jack Miglioretti, M, Sparks, Calvert Hall
Roland Miller, A, Bethesda, Walt Whitman
Ryan Moore, M, Stony Brook, N.Y., Ward Melville
Dan O'Keefe, G, Springfield, Va., Paul IV
Kevin Stever, G, Baldwin, John Carroll
Paul Villareal, D, Annapolis, St. Mary's
TOWSON STATE
Matt Clune, A, Davidsonville, St. Mary's
Matt Dolski, A, West Chester, Pa., West Chester East
Spencer Ford, M, Towson, Towson
Mike Graebner, D, Towson, Essex CC
Scott Joyner, M, Herndon, Va., Essex CC
Jason Parks, G, Bel Air, C. Milton Wright
Matt Treese, M, Beltsville, Atholton
Ian Wildey, M, Towson, Towson
UMBC
Chris Brown, G, Davidsonville, Anne Arundel CC
Sean Burke, A, Parkville, Catonsville CC
Erik Cherry, A, N. Bellmore, N.Y., Mepham
Ryan Cherry, A, N. Bellmore, N.Y., Mepham
David Ford, D, Lutherville, Loyola
Chad Henry, A, Lutherville, Catonsville CC
Al Hernandez, D, Huntington Station, N.Y., Walt Whitman (N.Y.)
Andrij Martyniuk, D, Rochester, N.Y., Irondequoit
Sal Montemaggione, M, N. Bellmore, N.Y., Mepham
Note: Several more players are expected to sign with Mount St. Mary's. Navy's recruits will not be available until late summer.