January 19, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland mens lacrosse coach Dick Edell announced the signing of five high school seniors to national letters of intent to begin play with the nationally-ranked team in the fall of 1999.

James Daue (Lutherville, Md./Boys Latin), Brett Harper (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), Mike Howley (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh), Sean Leary (Troy, Mich./Detroit Country Day) and William Passavia (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) have all signed on to wear the red, gold, black and white of Maryland.

Daue (midfield, 6-4 1/2, 195) comes to the Terps from high school power Boys Latin. Daue is a three-sport athlete at Boys Latin lettering in lacrosse, football and basketball. He was named the schools junior athlete of the year in 1998 and also played in the Bay State Games in 1998. In his senior year, Daue is serving as captain of the football and lacrosse teams.

Harper (defense, 6-0, 190) is coming to Maryland from Columbus, Ohio, where he has been a star in both lacrosse and football at Upper Arlington High School. Harper was named to the first team All-Ohio Capital Conference in football this past fall and was named to the All-Ohio and All-Midwest first teams in lacrosse last spring. He will also be the lacrosse team captain this spring.

Howley (defense, 6-1, 200) comes to College Park from Long Island, where he is starring at Wantagh High School. Howley was named all-county in lacrosse as a sophomore and junior and all-county in football as a senior. He was also a member of Long Islands gold medal-winning Empire State Games lacrosse team in the summer of 1998. Howley captained the football team last fall and will begin his second season as lacrosse captain this spring.

Leary (attack, 6-4 1/2, 225) is a three-sport athlete at Detroit Country Day School in Michigan. Leary has been honored as an all-state player in lacrosse as a sophomore and junior, an all-state player in ice hockey as a sophomore and an all-area player in football as a sophomore, junior and senior. He has served as team captain in ice hockey as a sophomore, junior and senior and as the football captain as a senior.

Passavia (midfield, 5-9, 170) joins the Terps from high school power Ward Melville on Long Island. He has been a standout on both the lacrosse and soccer fields. He was named all-county in soccer as a junior and senior, was soccer team captain for three years and serves as the lacrosse teams captain as a senior.

The 1999 Maryland mens lacrosse schedule opens on Thursday, Feb. 25 as the Terps host the University of Denver at 4:00 p.m.