View Complete Results From The 2008 MLL Collegiate Draft
HOBOKEN, N.J. – Army senior Adam Fullerton was drafted with the 28th overall pick by the Rochester Rattlers in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology, Wednesday night. Named a third-team All-America this past weekend by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), the Black Knight captain was the first goalie taken off the board with the eighth pick of the third round. He is also the first Army player drafted to play in the MLL since attackman Jim Wagner was taken by the Rattlers in the fifth round in 2005.
“I am very proud and happy for Adam,” said Army head coach Joe Alberici. “This is a testament to not only his ability, but his work ethic and the type of leader that he is. His game translates very well to the pro game, in that not only is he good at making saves, but he is strong around the cage and in transition.”
A finalist for both the Tewaaraton and Enners awards recognizing the national player of the year, Fullerton was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and a first-team all-conference honoree for the second season in a row.
A native of Liverpool, N.Y., Fullerton became the first Army player to be named All-America since senior defenseman Matt Luyster and senior attackman John Walker lauded honorable mention honors after the 2006 season. He also becomes the Black Knights’ first third-team honoree since senior midfielder Rob Cahill capped his career with the award in 1991.
Named the Patriot League Goalie of the Week on five occasions this year, he finished the season ranked sixth nationally in save percentage (.615) and ninth in goals against average (7.30), while leading the conference in both categories.
Fullerton registered double-digit saves in 11 games, including a career-high 24 in a 10-6 loss to top-ranked Duke when Army held the potent Blue Devil offense six goals under their season scoring average.
Fullerton also eclipsed the 24-year old Academy record for career saves, besting the previous mark of 603 held by four-time All-American George Slabowski (USMA ’91) with 620 over the past four years.
Fullerton is the fourth Black Knight to be drafted in the MLL. Before Wagner in 2005, Jeff Bryan was a third-round selection of the Boston Cannons in 2004, after Tim Pearson was taken by the Long Island Lizards in 2002.
The Rochester Rattlers are one of six original teams in the MLL, along with the Boston Cannons, Long Island Lizards, New Jersey Pride, Philadelphia Barrage and the Washington Bayhawks, that currently comprise the “Eastern Conference” of the league. In 2006, the league expanded to 10 teams with the addition of four “Western Conference” teams – Chicago Machine, Denver Outlaws, Los Angeles Riptide and San Francisco Dragons.
The league was founded in 2001 by Jake Steinfeld of “Body By Jake” fame.
|
