June 1, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Former Notre Dame All-Americans D.J. Driscoll (Downington, Pa.) and Pat Walsh (Wantagh, N.Y.) were selected in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft on Wednesday, May 31. Driscoll, a defenseman, became the first-ever draft pick of the expansion Los Angeles Riptide. He was the first selection in the second round and the 11th pick overall. Walsh, an attackman, will return home to play for the Long Island Lizards as he was picked in the fourth round (34th overall).
Driscoll becomes Notre Dame’s highest-ever pick in the MLL draft since the league was founded back in 2001. He was recently named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-America second team after earning honorable mention accolades last season. Driscoll is a three-time All-Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) first-team selection and was the GWLL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.
The Pennsylvania native co-captained this year’s Irish squad as Notre Dame returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. He also spearheaded Notre Dame’s defensive attack, which finished the season ranked 11th in NCAA Division I by allowing just 7.67 goals per game. Driscoll played in 51 career games for the Fighting Irish, making 43 starts.
Walsh is a three-time All-America honoree and finished his stellar collegiate career in second place in both career points (192) and assists (108) at Notre Dame. He is the only student-athlete in program history to receive All-America honors during his first three seasons. Walsh, who is a native of Long Island, was a USILA third-team selection as a sophomore in 2004 along with garnering honorable-mention distinction in 2003 and 2005.
Pat Walsh concluded his Fighting Irish career second on Notre Dame’s career list for points (192) and assists (108).
|
 |
The two-time Tewaaraton Trophy nominee started all 52 games during his Fighting Irish career and was a four-time All-GWLL first-team member. This past season, he tied for the team lead in points with 50 coming on 22 goals and a team-high 28 assists. He also finished 11th nationally by averaging 1.87 assists per game.
The Rochester Rattlers selected Maryland attackman Joe Walters with the first pick in the draft followed by Virginia midfielder Kyle Dixon to Baltimore and UMass attackman Sean Morris to Chicago. Driscoll and Walsh become the sixth and seventh Notre Dame players, respectively, to be drafted into the MLL. Last year, the Boston Cannons selected midfielder Brian Giordano with the 23rd pick overall. Driscoll also becomes the first-ever Fighting Irish defenseman picked in the draft.
For more information on Major League Lacrosse, including team rosters and schedules, please log onto majorleaguelacrosse.com.
All-Time Notre Dame Selections In MLL Collegiate Draft
Player Position Year Team Round PickSteve Bishko M 2001 Rochester Rattlers 3 13Tom Glatzel A 2001 Baltimore Bayhawks 4 22David Ulrich A 2001 Baltimore Bayhawks 5 27Devin Ryan M 2002 Bridgeport Barrage 4 19Brian Giordano M 2005 Boston Cannons 4 23D.J. Driscoll D 2006 Los Angeles Riptide 2 11Pat Walsh A 2006 Long Island Lizards 4 34