June 17, 2005

Former Duke standout Kevin Cassese has been named to the United States lacrosse team that will represent the U.S. in the 2006 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship, announced this week by US Lacrosse.

Cassese, who graduated from Duke in 2003, finished his collegiate career with 118 points on 80 goals and 38 assists while helping the Blue Devils to a pair of ACC championships and three NCAA Tournament berths. He earned first team All-America honors in both 2002 and 2003. The midfielder, who currently plays for the Rochester organization of the MLL, also played on the 2002 U.S. squad that captured the gold medal in Perth, Australia.

A 24-person player selection committee, chaired by past U.S. Team goalie Larry Quinn, named the 2006 U.S. Men's Team after a four-day, 120-player tryout at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. A record number of 18 teams will head to Canada for the ILF Championship in July 2006 in London, Ontario. The U.S. has won eight of the nine ILF World Championships contested, including six straight.

The U.S. roster includes 10 former U.S. Team players-seven players from the 2002 U.S. Team that won the world championship in Perth, Australia and three players from the 1998 U.S. Team that won the title in Baltimore. Twenty-one of the 23 players selected are on Major League Lacrosse rosters.

U.S. Team head coach John Desko, who has won three national championships as head coach at Syracuse, feels the athleticism of the team will benefit them under international rules.

"(The biggest strength is) the ability of the players to get up-and-down the field," said Desko. "So many of them are so versatile. Two or three of the attackmen can probably play midfield to give us more depth there. With this many talented players, the trick will be somewhat chemistry and getting to play as a team.

2006 U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team
Name -- Pos. -- Current Team -- College
Ryan Boyle* -- A -- Philadelphia (MLL) -- Princeton '04
Kevin Cassese* -- M -- Rochester (MLL) -- Duke '03
Roy Colsey -- M -- Philadelphia (MLL) -- Syracuse '95
Christian Cook -- D -- Baltimore (MLL) -- Princeton '98
Ryan Curtis -- D -- Boston (MLL) -- Virginia '00
John Gagliardi -- D -- Long Island (MLL) -- Johns Hopkins '97
Chris Garrity -- G -- Boston (MLL) -- Penn State '03
Kyle Harrison -- M -- New Jersey (MLL) -- Johns Hopkins '05
A.J. Haugen -- M -- Long Island (MLL) -- Johns Hopkins '00
Jay Jalbert -- M -- Long Island (MLL) -- Virginia '00
Pat McCabe# -- D -- Long Island (MLL) -- Syracuse '91
Blake Miller# -- M -- Long Island (MLL) -- Hofstra '96
Nick Polanco -- D -- Long Island (MLL) -- Hofstra '02
Casey Powell# -- A -- Rochester (MLL) -- Syracuse '98
Michael Powell* -- A -- Baltimore (MLL) -- Syracuse '04
Ryan Powell -- A -- Rochester (MLL) -- Syracuse '00
Todd Rassas* -- D -- Capital LC (USCLA) -- Notre Dame '98
Doug Shanahan* -- M -- Philadelphia (MLL) -- Hofstra '01
Matt Striebel* -- M -- Philadelphia (MLL) -- Princeton '01
Kyle Sweeney -- D -- Philadelphia (MLL) -- Georgetown '03
Trevor Tierney* -- G -- Baltimore (MLL) -- Princeton '01
Scott Urick -- A -- New Jersey (MLL) -- Georgetown '00
Joe Walters -- A -- Univ. of Maryland -- Maryland '06

* - Member of 2002 U.S. Team
# - Member of 1998 U.S. Team

Head Coach: John Desko (Syracuse)
Assistant Coaches: Mike Caravana (Woodberry Forest), Matt Kerwick (Hobart), Scott Marr (Albany)