The Rochester Rattlers will be sending three players down to Boca Raton, Florida this weekend for the 2012 MLL All Star Game. Two of them will be playing for the Young Guns and one for the Old School. Even though the Young Guns have two players, the Old School player has five times the All Star experience over them. Here they are.
Starting out with the first Young Gun will be midfielder Steve DeNapoli. Out of Hofstra on Long Island, Steve was drafted by the Bayhawks in the 2011 Collegiate Draft as the 30th overall pick. He was acquired by the Rattlers in an off season trade when Chesapeake decided to obtain the draft rights to Joe Cummings along with a 2013 MLL College Draft pick from Rochester and send DeNapoli to the Rattlers in exchange. In his seven games with the Rattlers this season, Steve has scored 7 goals, one two-point goal and scooped up 18 ground balls. This will be his first MLL All Star game.
Second on the list for the Young Guns from Rochester is long pole Joel White. He was drafted by Rochester from Syracuse. He ended last season second in the MLL with 71 ground balls. This season, Joel has already caught the eye of the MLL and its fans. In his game against Hamilton, he was all over the field, playing both offense and defense. Making nugget catches, using his feet to pass the ball soccer style, and not to mention the rusty gate he pulled. White has recorded 3 goals and 3 assists and 22 ground balls in just four games, with only one minute spent in the box. This will also be Mr. White’s first MLL All Star game.
The only player to make the Old School roster from the Rattlers is midfielder Matt Striebel. The Princeton grad has been in the MLL since it started back in 2001, beginning with the Bridgeport Barrage and followed them to Philadelphia. He then moved to the Chicago Machine for two years and has been with Rochester since last year.
Matt’s 2011 campaign ended with him recording 13 goals, 4 two-point goals and 8 assists with 26 ground balls. This season so far, he has acquired 7 goals, 4 two-point goals, 2 assists and 7 ground balls. This will be Striebel’s fifth MLL All Star game. He was a part of the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011 all star teams.
The All Star game is set for this Saturday, June 30. Players will start warming up at 6:30 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University Stadium.
