WRITTEN BY: NICOLE SULINSKI
It has been an eventful few weeks in the Major League of Lacrosse. On Friday, January 10, the league held its 14th yearly collegiate draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the US National Lacrosse Convention.
This attested to be very exciting for many reasons, but proved to be especially important for two Penn State Men’s Lacrosse players, Austin Kaut, and Tom LaCrosse.
Kaut, #19, is a senior Goalkeeper at Penn State who was selected by the Boston Cannons. Hailing from Morton, PA, Kaut has been making tremendous contributions to Penn State’s team since his first appearance in 2011. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2011, and continued his success as a sophomore in 2012 by placing sixth in the NCAA for save percentage. As a junior in 2013, Kaut earned the Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Award for collegiate lacrosse’s best in goal, and was also named second in the nation due to his outstanding .610 save percentage.
Kaut will be quite the addition to the Cannons team, with his remarkable history in the goal. His stats and save percentages have always been noteworthy, and I believe that only progress will be made from here on out. Hopefully, Kaut will help the Cannons surpass their overall 5-9 record in his up and coming time with the team.
The Collegiate Draft remained just as important for another Penn State Men’s Lacrosse Senior. Midfielder and #25, LaCrosse was picked up by the Rochester Rattlers. After earning a high school State Title in his home town of Canandaigua, NY, LaCrosse joined Penn State’s team in 2011. His remarkable contributions to the team start as a freshman, ranking fourth on the team overall with scoring, and continue onto his sophomore year when he had a season-high three goal game. In his junior year at Penn State, LaCrosse was ranked fourth on the team for shots, goals and points. He earned an honorable mention USILA All-American, and was deservingly given a spot on the All-CAA first team.
LaCrosse definitely has a lot to bring to the table as a player, and the Rattlers will benefit greatly from having him as a part of their program. His all season goal records, and points earned have increased every season, and I am excited to see what he will add to the Rattlers.
Both Kaut and LaCrosse have made Penn State Men’s Lacrosse a better program, and it will definitely be exciting to see how they develop as players and some of the top contributors to their respective teams.
