MEN: Chapman Picks Up 4 Transfers From NCAA Programs

Four players with NCAA lacrosse experience will transfer to Chapman University in time for the 2010 season, head coach Mike Wood said Thursday.

Former WSL Nevada Boys Player of the Year Madison Fiore, a sophomore attackman, has joined the Panthers from the University of Maryland. Sophomore long-stick middies Ben Petraglia and Matt Walrath, both New Jersey natives, have transferred to Chapman from the University of Massachusetts and Stevens Tech, respectively.

“Fiore’s the real deal,” Wood said. “He’s probably going to start at attack. Petraglia and Walrath, these two guys are going to split time at LSM.”

The news isn’t all good for Chapman, however. The Panthers have lost two-time WSL Nevada Player of the Year Nick Campo, who has returned to Las Vegas and will play at UNLV, Wood said. Campo’s father, Gary Campo, is the Runnin’ Rebels head coach.

Nick Campo transferred to Chapman from Notre Dame de Namur in the fall. Wood said he expects another former NDNU player to join his ranks in February when sophomore middie Justin Shields completes his transfer.

Wood called the four transfers key additions to his squad, which is ranked No. 2 in the MCLA The Lax Mag preseason Top 23.

“It’s going to help us replace some of the guys that we (graduated),” Wood said. “I think the two LSM’s are as good as anybody I’ve got.”