Pressler announces freshman class

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Bryant University head men's lacrosse coach Mike Pressler has announced the Bulldogs' 18-member freshman class that will suit up for the Black and Gold this spring.

"Every October for the past 14 years it has been my pleasure to welcome the new incoming Bryant Lacrosse class to the Bulldog Nation. It is a large, diverse group geographically. It is a tremendous class academically. We feel after a month of fall practice to date we have added great depth to many positions of need. It's exciting for us that seven or eight of these freshmen will be in the mix to earn playing time this spring. Collectively they have been a tremendous class to coach. The future of Bryant Bulldog Men's Lacrosse has never looked brighter."

The freshman class consists of student-athletes from 14 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and four Rhode Island natives.

2020 Bryant Lacrosse Freshmen

8 | Jacob Alexander | M | 5-6 | 175 | Franklin, Mass./Franklin
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at Franklin (Mass.) High School … Panthers won Hockomock League Championship and advanced to D1 South semifinals in 2019 … Named Hockomock League MVP and first-team all-state in 2019 … Earned first-team all-state honors in 2018 and a second-team selection in 2017 … Four-time Hockomock League all-star … Honored as a three-time Metro West Daily News all-star … Collected all-scholastic honors from the Boston Globe and Boston Herald … Also played two years of football. 

Personal
Son of Mary Catherine and Steven Alexander … Has two brothers, Zach and Justin … Zach is a member of the men's lacrosse team at Wentworth … Plans to major in Business.

16 | Ryan Auger | A | 6-0 | 155 | Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire … State champion as a junior and senior … State runner-up as a freshman and sophomore … Went 75-9 in his four seasons … Three-time All-American … Three-time first-team all-state selection after a second-team nod as a freshman … School-record 453 points in his four years … Four-year member of the football and basketball teams. 

Personal
Son of Stacey and Martin Auger … Has one sister, Lily … Intends to major in Business. 

47 | Harrison Berke | D | 6-1 | 195 | Las Vegas, Nev./Lawrenceville School (N.J.)
Before Bryant
Played three years at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey after transferring from Johnson High School in San Antonio, Texas … Won the Prep School State Championship in 2017 with a 20-7 record … Texas All-State selection as an LSM his freshman season … Also played four years of football.

Personal
Son of Shelley and Brian Berke … Has two brothers, Ben and Aaron … Intends to major in Economics.

24 | Ryan Dobrzynski | M | 5-9 | 160 | West Greenwich, R.I./La Salle Academy
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at La Salle Academy in Providence … Four-time state champion with the Rams … Named 2019 Rhode Island Player of the Year … Two-time All-American and two-time first-team all-state (2018, 2019) … Two-time Academic All-American … Played four years of soccer at La Salle.

Personal
Son of Kelli and Robert Dobrzynski … Has two siblings Jack and Grace … Brother plays lacrosse at UMass Boston … Intends to major in Finance.

9 | Kevin Groeninger | A/M | 6-0 | 185 | San Juan Capistrano, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at St. Margaret's Episcopal School in California … Won CIF Southern Section as a senior in 2019 and was CIF runner-up in 2018 … Three-time US All-American … Two-time team captain … Two-time Orange County Player of the Year … Three-time first-team all-county … Recorded 411 points (206 goals, 205 assists) in his high school career … Two-time first-team all-league in soccer. 

Personal
Son of Lisa and Tom Groeninger … Father played lacrosse at Virginia … Has two siblings, Matthew and Sarah … Intends to major in Finance.

31 | Timmy Hackett | M | 5-9 | 180 | Winnetka, Ill./Loyola Academy
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois … Three-time All-American … Played four years of hockey, earning all-state honors as a junior and senior. 

Personal
Son of Lisa Stepan and Tim Hackett … Has three siblings, Francie, Gracie and Johnny … Intends to major in Business.

40 | Brennan Hart | G | 5-10 | 285 | New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield
Before Bryant
Played four years at New Fairfield (Conn.) High School … Two-time state champions (2018, 2019) and three-time SWC champions (2017, 2018, 2019) … Also competed in one year of wrestling.

Personal
Son of Susan and Thomas Hart … Has two brothers, Thomas and Tyler … Intends to major in Economics.

92 | LaJhon Jones | D | 6-0 | 205 | North Smithfield, R.I./Brewster Academy (N.H.)
Before Bryant
Played a postgraduate year at Brewster Academy after four seasons at LaSalle Academy in Providence … Named a Northern New England All-Star, Lakes Region All-Star and Northern New England Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 at Brewster … 2018 Rhode Island Player of the Year … Three-time first-team all-state and all-division selection at LaSalle as the Rams won four consecutive state titles … US Lacrosse All-American … Also played two years of football.

Personal
Son of Leslie and LaJhon Jones Sr. … Father played football at Rhode Island and two years for the San Diego Chargers … Mother played field hockey at Rhode Island … Has one sister, Kennedy … Intends to major in Business.

21 | Mike Kearney | M | 5-11 | 185 | Mahwah, N.J./Bergen Catholic
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at Bergen Catholic in New Jersey … State runner-up in 2016 …. County runner-up in 2017 … First-team all-state in 2019 … Two-time all-county selection (2018, 2019) … Two-time first-team All-Gibbs Division (2018, 2019) … Played four years of football, breaking Bergen Catholic's career record for points by a kicker. 

Personal
Son of Deb and Tom Kearney … Has four siblings, Dan, Joe, Katie and Kevin … Intends to major in Finance.

51 | Zach Musial | G | 6-0 | 195 | Cartersville, Ga./McCallie School (Tenn.)
Before Bryant
Played three years at the McCallie School in Tennessee including a postgraduate year, after two years at Harrison HS in Georgia … State runner-up in 2017 and 2018 at McCallie … First-team all-state in 2019 in addition to a second-team honor in 2018. 

Personal
Son of Cheryl and William Musial … Has one brother, Cole … Intends to major in Finance.

58 | Ean Patry | G | 5-11 | 195 | Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy
Before Bryant
Played four years of lacrosse at Thornton Academy in Maine … First-team all-state and all-conference selection as a junior and senior while winning a state championship in both seasons … Named to the senior all-star game after back-to-back selections to the underclassmen all-star game as a sophomore and junior … Played four years of football, collecting first-team all-state and all-conference with a state championship as a senior.

Personal
Son of Kim and Dan Patry … Has one brother, Isaac, who plays football at WPI … Intends to major in Finance/Entrepreneurship.

36 | Liam Peterson | D | 6-2 | 190 | Cumberland, R.I./LaSalle Academy
Before Bryant
Won four state championships in four seasons at LaSalle Academy in Providence … First-team all-state and all-division along with a US Lacrosse All-American selection as a senior … Second-team all-state and all-division as a junior … Played four years of hockey, winning a state championship in 2017-18.

Personal
Son of Maureen and John Peterson … Has two siblings, Mairead and Ronan … Intends to major in Finance.

17 | Matt Prochaska | M | 5-11 | 170 | Danville, Calif./Monte Vista
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at Monte Vista High School in California … Two-time first-team all-league selection … Tallied 49 goals and 32 assists as a senior … Played three years of football, earning first-team all-league honors with 715 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. 

Personal
Son of Ann and Michael Prochaska … Has one sister, Kaila … Prochaska is a wide receiver on the Bryant football team … Intends to major in Business.

32 | Will Ronan | M | 5-10 | 175 | Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams
Before Bryant
Four-year letterwinner at Rochester Adams High School in Michigan … Second-team all-state and Team MVP as a senior … Team was regional runner-up in 2019 … Honorable mention all-state as a freshman and junior … Three-time all-academic selection … Played two years of football and one season of soccer. 

Personal
Son of Renee and Scott Ronan … Has two brothers, Jack and Sean.

55 | Brody Rule | D | 6-0 | 185 | Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch
Before Bryant
Played four years at Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado … Two-time first-team all-state selection (2018, 2019) … All-American as a senior … Helped the team to its first state Final Four as a senior … Also played four years of football.

Personal
Son of Kerri and Brad Rule … Has two siblings, Brooklyn and Beau … Intends to major in Business.

19 | Frank Smith | A | 5-10 | 185 | Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley
Before Bryant
Played four years of lacrosse, football and basketball at Locust Valley (N.Y.) High School … Two-time All-Nassau County selection … Four-year starter in lacrosse for a Locust Valley team that lost a total of 10 games in four seasons … Three-year starter in basketball.

Personal
Son of Kelly Pfeifer and Frank Smith … Has two sisters, Chelsie and Nakeli … Intends to major in Business.

46 | Liam Smith | D | 5-10 | 184 | Smithfield, R.I./LaSalle Academy
Before Bryant
Won four state championships in four seasons at LaSalle Academy in Providence … Rams went 76-2 in his four seasons … Also played two years of hockey and one year of football. 

Personal
Son of Maura and Bill Smith … Father is Bryant's Director of Athletics … Father played football and lacrosse at Colgate …. Mother played soccer at Roanoke … Has three siblings, Molly, Daniel and Marin … Molly played lacrosse at Bryant … Intends to major in Politics and Law.

35 | Chad Vasquenza | D | 6-2 | 205 | Mt. Airy, Md./St. Paul's School
Before Bryant
Played four years of lacrosse at St. Paul's School in Baltimore … Team made a quarterfinal appearance in his senior season … Also played four years of football.

Personal
Son of Kelly and Brian Vasquenza … Has two sisters, Courtney and Claire … Intends to major in Finance.

Bryant begins its 2020 season Sunday, Feb. 10, at Beirne Stadium. The full 2020 schedule will be announced later this fall.

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