September 30, 2009
Cassese ends MLL career, seeks Team USA spot
by George Martins/
Kevin Cassese has finished a lengthy and memorable chapter but isn't ready to close the book on his playing career.
The midfielder, a seven-year Major League Lacrosse veteran, was not protected by the Cannons when teams submitted 23-man protected lists to the league this week. Cassese was one of several MLL veterans who were not protected.
On Wednesday, Cassese told laxjournal.com that he will retire from MLL but hopes to continue with Team USA for "one last go-around."
Cassese helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2002 International Lacrosse Federation world championships and was on the US squad that finished second at the 2006 world championships. He is one of 40 players remaining in a pool from which 23 will be selected this fall to represent the US at the world championships in Manchester, England, in July 2010.
"I loved playing for Boston ... But the travel (from Pennsylvania) took a toll,'' said Cassese, who coaches Lehigh's men's lacrosse team. "(I) have been playing in the league for seven years and only for a half season was I able to play somewhere remotely close to where I lived.
"I am at a point where my family and my full-time job must be the top priority."
Cassese began his MLL career with Rochester in 2003. In four seasons with the Rattlers, he collected 152 groundballs. He spent the next two seasons in Philadelphia, winning the MLL championship with the Barrage in 2007, before joining the Cannons last season. In 62 regular-season games, Cassese scored 64 goals, including 12 two-pointers, and added 28 assists. He had seven goals and two assists with the Cannons last season.
Cassese was one of eight players left unprotected by the Cannons. Also left off the protected list was midfielder Brett Garber, the grandson of legendary former UMass-Amherst coach Dick Garber and the son of Ted Garber, also a former UMass coach and a former Cannons assistant.
The players left unprotected have been released into the MLL Player Pool, which will remain frozen until after the completion of the 2010 Supplemental Draft, which will be held Dec. 9. For a complete list of protected and unprotected MLL players, click here and scroll to the bottom of the webpage.
Cannons' 23-man protected roster
Alrich, Matt-Attack
Belisle, Mitch-Defense
Boyle, Ryan-Attack
Burke, Jordan-Goalie
Casey, Matt -Midfield
Christmas, Jonathan-Attack
Corp, Brandon-Attack
Downing, Greg-Midfield
Eck, Christopher-Midfield/FO
Horsey, Bobby-Midfield
Levin, Michael-Goalie
McClay, Ryan-Defense
Megill, Ray-Defense
Messina, Matt-Midfield
Morris, Sean-Attack
Passavia, Chris-Defense
Podgajny, Mike-Midfield
Poskay, Matt-Midfield
Rabil, Paul-Midfield
Reid, Jack-Defense
Smith, Justin-Midfield
Sweeney, Kyle-Defense
Turner, Kip-Goalie
Cannons' unprotected players
Beebe, Jake-Midfield
Cassese, Kevin-Midfield
D’Arrigo, Joseph-Midfield
Evans, Nate-Midfield
Garber, Brett-Midfield
Garnett, Reyn-Defense
Ortolani, John-Midfield
Zummo, Tom-Midfield
