Foothill-Pleasanton senior attackman Gabe Garcia is the latest to commit to play NCAA Division II lacrosse at Mesa State College.

Garcia, who helped lead the Falcons to the CIF-North Coast Section championship game as a junior, said he also considered Air Force, Ferrum, Roanoke and Providence before settling on the fledgling, Grand Junction, Colo.-based program that will take the field for the first time in the spring of 2011.

“I just liked the whole vibe,” Garcia said. “When I went to visit, it was amazing. I loved it. I liked how it had an East Coast feel but was similar to my hometown.”

Garcia said he is pumped to make the transition to the college game, and he is impressed with the caliber of recruits Mesa State has attracted.

“I’m pretty excited,” he said. “I think our team is going to be great. The kids that are going there are pretty good, and a lot of them could go DI. It’s just that the facilities at Mesa are incredible.”