Nov. 18, 2005

College Park, Md. - Maryland men's lacrosse head coach Dave Cottle has announced the signing of seven players to National Letters Of Intent to play lacrosse for the University of Maryland starting in the fall of 2006 for the 2007 spring season.

"This class will continue the legacy of Maryland men's lacrosse," said Cottle. "I'm especially pleased to continue the Terrapin lacrosse legacy with Brian Farrell and Brian Phipps, but we would have recruited those two even without their ties to Maryland. They're great lacrosse players. Each one of these guys is a fantastic athlete who will contribute a lot during their time at Maryland."

Midfielder Casey Creaney (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) continues a long tradition of Loyola Blakefield alums playing lacrosse for Maryland. The 6-2 midfielder is a ferocious hitter who is also a four-year letterwinner in football. On the gridiron he led Loyola to the MIAA Championship and was an all-MIAA selection. He was also selected to the Super 22 All-Star team. Creaney's father, Mike, was an Academic All-American football player at Notre Dame and was sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 1973 NFL Draft. Creaney's older brother, Brennan, was a defender on the Fighting Irish lacrosse team and was an All-Great Western Lacrosse selection as a senior in 2004.

Defender Brian Farrell (Baltimore, Md./Boys Latin) helped lead Boys Latin to an 18-2 record as a junior in 2005 and a spot in the MIAA/STX A Conference Championship game. A pure athlete, the 6-4 Farrell is also a two-year letterwinner in football and men's basketball, as well as lacrosse. A tight end on the gridiron, he helped lead Boys Latin to the 2004 MIAA Conference title. His father, Mike, was a three-time All-American defender at Maryland from 1973-76, helping lead the Terps to NCAA Championships in 1973 and 1975, and was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Midfielder Bryn Holmes (Marriotsville, Md./McDonogh) helped lead McDonogh to a 22-1 record in 2005, a MIAA/STA A Conference championship and a No. 1 ranking in the final STX/Inside Lacrosse National High School Poll. Holmes was a second team All-Metro selection by the Baltimore Sun in 2005 and was named the Sun's "Athlete of the Week" on April 6 after scoring four goals and picking up 15 groundballs in leading McDonough to wins over No. 2 Boys' Latin and No. 6 Calvert Hall. Holmes is also a two-time All-Metro wrestler and won the 152-pound National Prep Championship in 2005. At that tournament Holmes was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler after pinning all five opponents, with only one lasting into the second period. Holmes is considered by McDonogh football coach Dom Damico to be McDonogh's best all-around athlete. He is the brother of current Terp midfielder Travis Holmes.

Defender Daniel Halayko (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) is one of the top defenders in the state of New York. The 6-4 Halayko helped guide Niskayuna to the 2005 New York State Class AA Championship game by leading a defense that allowed only 3.6 goals per game. Halayko was the team captain of the Adirondack team at the 2004 Empire State Games that captured the Bronze medal. A tremendous all-around athlete, Halayko is also a three-year letterwinner in football and a four-year letterwinner in basketball. In football he is a two-time all-area honoree. A two-way player, Halayko played wide receiver and defensive back, compiling 103 career receptions and 18 career interceptions.

Midfielder Dean Hart (Columbia, Md./Atholon) was a second team Baltimore Sun All-Howard County selection after scoring 43 goals and adding 25 assists in 2004. He was named team MVP as a sophomore and continued his prolific scoring as a junior in 2005 with 34 goals and 30 assists. A three-sport athlete, Hart is also a two-year letterwinner in football and basketball and is a captain on this year's Atholon football team. Hart's ties to the University of Maryland run deep as his father, Robert, was a two-year letterwinner in men's basketball in 1977-78, while his grandfather, Thomas Cosgrove, Jr., is one of the greatest football players in the history of Terrapin football and was inducted in the University of Maryland Sports Hall of Fame this past fall.

Goalie Brian Phipps (Severna Park, Md./Severn) was an honorable mention All-Metro selection in 2005 by both the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post. The Maryland state Kelly Award finalist was also a second team All-Anne Arundel County pick by the Sun after making 251 saves and posting a 68% save percentage in 17 games. Brian will join his brother, Mike, who is currently a junior at Maryland, on the Terps next fall. Phipps' father, Wilson, and grandfather, Louis, were also lacrosse players at Maryland. Wilson played from 1975-79 and was a member of the 1975 NCAA Championship team, while Louis played football and lacrosse from 1945-48.

Attackman Aaron Solomon (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) is a two-time US Lacrosse High School All-American. He finished his high school career with 282 points, second all-time in the state of Virginia. The two-time team MVP was also a 2005 first team All-Metro selection by the Washington Post. Solomon was also a three-time all-district and all-region selection at W.T. Woodson. He also was a four-year letterwinner in football, was an all-state linebacker in 2005, and was named the Liberty District Defensive Player of the Year.