great news
http://www.nylizards.com/articles/relocation-draft-article?utm_content=90147382&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-33268840WELCOME TO THE 'ZARDS
KEVIN CROWLEY AMONG NINE PLAYERS TAKEN
Garden City, New York (April 24th, 2019) In the history of professional lacrosse in North America, only one player was drafted first overall in both Major League Lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League and he has previous ties to Long Island. Now that player is a member of the New York Lizards, as former Stony Brook star and Charlotte Hounds midfielder Kevin Crowley was one of nine players taken by the Lizards in Wednesday’s MLL Relocation Draft.
Crowley, who recently completed his indoor season with the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League, is pumped up about his return to New York even though the Lizards home venue Shuart Stadium was once “enemy territory” for him on Long Island.
“I’m very excited,” said Crowley. “Playing my college ball there, it’s going to be cool to get to play on Long Island again. I couldn’t be happier to be a New York Lizard.”
Crowley has a previous and long standing relationship with Spallina who is the women’s lacrosse coach at Stony Brook and the opportunity to play for a legendary head coach like O’Hara was too good to pass up.
“Joe and I have a great relationship and obviously having that Stony Brook connection adds to it even more,” said Crowley. “And of course BJ is one of the most successful coaches and I’m very excited to play for him.”
In eight previous MLL seasons with Hamilton, Florida, Chesapeake, and Charlotte, Crowley has racked up 135 goals, 69 assists, and 207 points over 78 games. Crowley will make his Lizards debut in the 2019 season opener on Friday, May 31st against the defending MLL champion Denver Outlaws at Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University.
“Getting Kevin to New York is so tremendous,” said Lizards General Manager Joe Spallina. “This is the type of power move that helps further cement ourselves at the top of the league. Besides Kevin’s incredible lacrosse ability, he is also world class off the field, a true leader, and someone that will form a true connection with our incredible fans.”
Crowley has been a scoring machine indoors as well.
He’s totaled 292 goals, 323 assists and 615 points over 133 games in his eight year NLL career with the Wings, New England Black Wolves, and Toronto Rock. Drafted first overall in MLL in 2011 and first overall in the NLL in 2012, the Westminster, British Columbia native brings a powerful scoring touch to the Lizards and joins Mark Matthews for quite the 1-2 offensive punch.
“I think we’re going to compete for a championship,” said Crowley. “Mark knows this but I’m a huge Mark Matthews fan. He gets it done on the field and in the box and he’s one of the best players in the world.”
The 30 year old Crowley brings his potent left-handed shot back to Long Island where he was an outstanding midfielder for Stony Brook. Crowley ranks second on the SeaWolves all-time scoring list with 232 points and is one of just two players in school history with at least 100 goals and 100 assists.
Crowley was a two time First-Team All-American, the Tewaaraton Trophy runner up in 2010 and was a first-team selection in the America East Conference during all four of his seasons at Stony Brook. Crowley was named the 2010 USILA Player of the Year and the 2011 USILA Midfielder of the Year. He was inducted into the Stony Brook Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
“Everyone associated with our organization is absolutely thrilled to have Kevin in a Lizards uniform this season,” said O’Hara. “His tremendous talent, experience, and leadership will go a long way toward helping us bring the MLL Championship back to New York. It will be a special treat for all of our fans to have Kevin back here where he starred as a college player.”
also, ben randall played 2 years at SB before transferring, and also alex corpolongo was drafted (possibly spallina's doing?):
The Lizards also added All-star goalie Austin Kaut as well as defenseman Ben Randell, attackmen Ryan Walsh and Scott Bieda, midfielders Michael Begley and Alex Corpologo, and face-off specialists Greg Puskuldjian and Noah Rak.