Nov. 19, 2002

Denver - Head coach Jamie Munro has announced that six student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Denver and play lacrosse.

Brandon Barcus (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS), Spencer Evans (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), Jeb Hollingsworth (Darien, Conn./Darien HS), Ben Mullen (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS), Brad Patterson (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) and Ryan Shaughnessy (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS) have all declared that they will join the Pioneers in 2004.

Barcus is a highly decorated attacker from Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio. As a two-sport athlete, he also excelled in football. As a slotback, Barcus has compiled 11 touchdowns and 1,255 all-purpose yards. Better yet are his lacrosse awards and achievements. In 2002, he led the school in assists (34) and total points (70). Barcus is second all-time in the school's scoring sheets in those two areas as well. The senior co-captain was also nominated to the 2002 division-one All-Ohio second-team and the Ohio Upperclassman All-Star Team. Barcus chose the University of Denver over Army, Georgetown, Butler, and Ohio State.

"Brandon has tremendous explosiveness, vision and skill," said Munro. "He can feed, finish and go to the cage very well. He's a real smart player on the ball and he'll be able to play attack or mid-field."

Evans joins Denver from Bainbridge Island High School in Washington. In lacrosse, he was selected to go to the STX Blue Chip camp at the McDonagh School in Baltimore, Md. As a football player, he is a second-team all-league outside linebacker and the MVP of the special teams. He has also scored 10 touchdowns as a slot-back, four of which came in one game. The 6-foot-3, 186 pound mid-fielder also played as a basketball power-forward through school, which helped to further develop his athleticism and jumping ability. He chose the University of Denver over Sacred Heart.

Coach Munro said of Evans, "As a lacrosse player he is going to be as athletic as anybody out there."

Hollingsworth was a lacrosse player at Darien High School in Darien, Connecticut. He was also a Top Star candidate in the Gettysburg lacrosse camp as well as winning the top goalie award for his participation. The 6-foot, 170 pound goalie was also an alternate on the Connecticut super-juniors team.

"Jeb is extremely quick and a very good athlete in the goal," Munro said. "He really has the ability to make the big top-saves but is very consistent on the every-day routine saves as well."

Mullen is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound attackmen from Daniel Hand HS in Madison, Connecticut. Recruited to play college football, Mullen is the team captain of Hand's football team and plays strong safety as well as wide receiver. He is currently carrying the team to the state playoffs and leading the squad in tackles. As a lacrosse player, Mullen was on the super-juniors all-star team and will be the team captain for next year.

Munro said, "Ben is a very athletic, rugged attackmen who is going to be able to put a lot of pressure on a defense. He is athletic enough to play college football and was recruited to do so and we're lucky that he chose lacrosse because he's so gifted physically."

Patterson will be coming from The Hill School Pottstown, Pa. The 6-foot-2 180-pound attackmen is known for his physical ability and intensity on the field. He chose to play for the Pioneers over the University of Holy Cross.

"Brad is just a very skilled, very strong and athletic attackmen that we feel is going to have the ability to play attack or mid-field," mentioned Munro. "He gives us the kind of size and power that we wanted to try and get."

Shaughnessy will soon join the long list of Pioneer student-athletes from the powerhouse lacrosse program of Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, Ohio. Shaughnessy is the team captain and was an under-classmen all-star in school and is impressing all with his shot power and accuracy. He was also honorable mention for the mid-west and All-Ohio teams this year. The 5-foot-11 180-pound athlete decided on the University of Denver over Georgetown.

Coach Munro adds, "Ryan is and athletic mid-fielder who slashes and shoots well."