By: Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Rattlers
Although the NLL season is still fresh from just having kicked off the season no more than three weeks ago, the MLL started business with their Collegiate Draft on January 22nd. Before we get in depth of when and who the Rochester Rattlers took in this year’s draft, a big congratulations is due to Myles Jones a midfielder from Duke being drafted first overall by the Atlanta Blaze. Being a North Carolina fan as well as of course the Rochester Rattlers this writer can’t wait to see what Jones will bring to the MLL level of play especially being part of history with the new expansion team the Atlanta Blaze.
Now onto the business at hand of the Rattlers selections this year. Rochester was on the board in the First Round picking seventh where they selected Matt Dunn a defensemen from Loyola Blakefield. Dunn was selected to help fill in on defense as it is uncertain if Rochester’s own Manley is able to play this coming season. The Rattler’s would then have to wait to make there next pick 17th overall in Round Two. With that pick Rochester selected John Edmonds a Midfielder from Cornell. Edmonds moved back to Midfield his junior year at Cornell as he was part of The Big Red’s attack in 2014. In 2015 Edmond’s finished the season with 21G and 9A totaling 30 points. Within his three years at Cornell Edmond’s has played in 50 games, 53G and 21A having 74 points.
The Rattler’s would then not have a selection in the Third Round, having to wait to select in the 34th spot overall in the Fourth Round. In that spot they would select another Midfielder from Fairfield TJ Neubauer. Neubauer in 2015 would earn the honors of First Team All-CAA; First Team All-New England; Inside Lacrosse Preseason; All-America Honorable Mention; First Team Preseason All-New England; Preseason All-CAA and Team Captain. To top in off in the accomplishment category Neubauer also had three game winning goals for Fairfield this past season.
Rochester would then be quieted again until the Sixth Round picking 51st where they selected home grown product Blaze Riorden goalie from Albany. Riorden would start in all 55 games played since his freshman year with the Great Danes. So far he has an 11.04 GAA making a total of 650 saves in his career giving him a 53.3% save average; and has gone coast to coast scoring a goal for the Great Danes. This writer has had the privilege of playing Riorden in a summer league and watching him play. With Rochester selecting him and knowing what his capability is in the net, he will be a great asset to compliment Rattlers starting goalie John Galloway who was drafted in 2011 from Syracuse.
Bringing on the Seventh Round the Rattlers would then select another Midfielder Eric DeJohn from St. John’s, who played in 13 of 14 games for Red Storm, starting 11 of them in 2014. Finally finishing the draft in the Eighth Round Rochester would end up picking 62nd and 69th. With the 62nd pick the Rattler’s would select Austin Schultz a defensemen for Army. In the tenure Schultz has had with the Black Knights he’s helped them grab the #1 defense in the nation in 2014 having and started all 14 games. In their final selection with the 69th pick the Rattler’s would select Sal Tuttle an Attackman out of Adelphi. So far Tuttle has 57G and 21A for a total of 78 points for the Panthers.
Even though MLL season is still a few months away it seems the Rattlers are determined to take a trip back to Championship weekend with the goal of making a statement by bringing the Championship Trophy home to Rochester where they unfortunately lost it to the New York Lizards in 2015.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Rattlers
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