Thursday, March 19, 2009

LONG BEACH HERALD: Reaching for big time lacrosse

By Andrew Coen
Long Beach Herald

As Bryant University lacrosse begins its journey as a Division I program this spring, a former Long Beach High School star is along for the ride at the small Rhode Island college that hopes to reach big time heights.

Max Weisenberg, following a stellar career with the Marines, is developing into a major contributor to Bryant's inaugural season in Division I after making the Division II semifinals last season. The 5'11 180-pound midfielder is on the Bulldogs second midfield unit and has tallied fours goals and four assists through eight games.

"The first thing that caught my attention was his level of athleticism," Bryant head coach Mike Pressler said. "He's a Division I athlete."
Weisenberg was recruited to Bryant by Pressler after leading Long Beach to the Nassau County Class A finals with 35 goals and 32 assists while being named an All-American last year. He is one of three Long Beach seniors from the 2008 Marines team to be playing on the Division I college level, including Hofstra midfielder Michael Farina and St. John's attackman James McLoughlin.

"I'm proud that he's working hard and doing all the right things," Long Beach head lacrosse coach Jim Kasper said of Weisenberg's elevation into the college lacrosse world. "He has a lot of potential."

The Long Beach graduate's adjustment from facing Nassau County high school defenders versus the nation's top college players has not been easy. "It's just faster-paced,"said Weisenberg of the difference between high school and college lacrosse. "Every day in practice is like a tryout."

Weisenberg decided to become a pioneer in Bryant lacrosse's ascension into Division I due in large part to Pressler, who took over the program after resigning as head coach at Duke in 2006 following rape allegations of three Blue Devil players, which later proved bogus. Pressler quickly turned Bryant into a Division II power and just before its first season in Division I, landed Duke transfer Zach Greer, who was the nation's leading scorer in 2005, ‘07 and ‘08. "He's a great coach and he's helping my game a lot,"said Weisenberg of Pressler. In addition to Presser's coaching abilities, Weisenberg is also grateful for the help he has given him off the field. When Weisenberg first arrived at the Rhode Island private college his roommate situation was problematic, so Pressler made the effort to switch him into a different room with two junior lacrosse players. These two Bryant players and roommates of Weisenberg both hail from Long Island in Matt Murnane, a Rockville Centre native and Oceanside High School product, and Valley Stream South graduate Bryant Amitrano.

"You try to be there for them 24/7 and not just on the field but for all issues they face off the field,"said Pressler.

Bryant is not eligible for postseason play until Weisenberg's junior year in the 2011 season, but Pressler has developed a competitive schedule to keep his team's motivation sky high including tilts with national powerhouses Virginia, Maryland, Loyola (Md.) and Brown. The Bulldogs got off to a respectable 4-4 start, including a 20-2 rout of Wagner on Feb. 28 that saw Weisenberg notch a pair of goals.

During Bryant's journey into the Division I ranks Pressler fully expects Weisenberg to be a huge part of the process. "He's a quick learner,"he said. "He has exceeded my expectations."