Dec. 3, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head coach Dave Cottle has announced the signing of nine high schools seniors to National Letters of Intent to play lacrosse at Maryland beginning with the 2003-04 school year.

The class of 2004 signees are: Ryne Adolph (Springfield, Pa.), Harry Alford (Washington, D.C.), Thomas Alford (Washington, D.C.), Michael Brown (West Hartford, Conn.), Ryan Clarke (Long Beach, N.Y.), Jay Feely (Phoenix, Md.), Travis Holmes (Marriottsville, Md.), Michael Phipps (Severna Park, Md.), Sean Sullivan (Duxbury, Mass.).

"I'm very excited about this class," said Cottle. "We fixed two areas of concern -- goalie and face-off midfield. We think we had added to our depth with many players who will make significant contributions during their time at Maryland.

Adolph is a defenseman at Springfield High School in Pennsylvania. He is a star on the lacrosse field as well as the football field with the Cougars earned All-County honors. All-Metro.

The Alford twins star at St. Albans School in Washington D.C. Harry is a star goalie, who is a member of the United States Men's U-19 team which will play in the 2003 U-19 World Championships held at Towson. He was a second-team Washington Post All-Met selection in 2002. Thomas is a face-off midfielder at St. Albans and should contribute for the Terps right away.

Brown is an attackman at Conard High School in West Hartford, Conn. He has been a key scorer for the Chieftains.

Clarke is a defender at Chaminade High School on Long Island. He played in this past summer's Empire State Games.

Feely is a midfielder at Dulaney High School, who scored 16 goals as a junior with the Lions.

Holmes plays midfield at the McDonogh School, where he is also a star football linebacker and wrestler.

Phipps was a second team Baltimore Sun All-Metro and All-County selection last spring while playing attack at Severn School. Phipps' father Wilson was a defenseman on Maryland's last national championship team in 1975.

Sullivan is a long-stick defensive midfielder, who played his high school ball at Duxbury High School in Massachusetts. He is playing at Loomis Chaffee in Windsor, Conn., this year.