The Lizards entered the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft with five picks in four rounds. In typical Coach Spallina fashion, the Lizards traded attackman Brandon Mangan to the Florida Launch for the 40th overall pick in the sixth round before the Draft even began. Midway through the Draft, the Coach Spallina was at it again, trading a 2016 7th round Collegiate Draft pick to the Charlotte Hounds in exchange for their 7th round pick this year. At the end of the night, the Lizards walked away with seven players who can join the team this summer. First pick was Michael Pellegrino (LSM), Johns Hopkins at 10th overall. At 11th overall the Lizards added Ryan Walsh (attack) from Colgate, followed by Hakeem Lecky (midfield) from Syracuse at 20th overall, Matt Poillon (goal) from Lehigh at 28th, Conrad Oberbeck (attack) from Yale at 40th, Mike Malave (midfield) from Hofstra, and closing out the night, Lukas Mikelinich (defense) from Lehigh.
No. # 10 overall – Michael Pellegrino – LSM – Johns Hopkins
A Long Island native, Michael Pellegrino is only the 13th player since 1949 to be named a captain for two season at Johns Hopkins. Heading into his senior season with the Blue Jays, he has played in more games than any other player on the 2015 roster. So far in three seasons at Hopkins, he has recorded 98 ground balls, the most of any non-faceoff specialist on the team, and 38 caused turnovers, the most of any returning player this year.
No. 11 overall – Ryan Walsh – Attack – Colgate
Ryan Walsh, another Long Island native, led the Colgate Raiders in points (45), goals (31), and assists (14) in 2014. Entering his senior season, Walsh ranks 7th on Colgate’s all-time goals list with 106. In 2014, he was named to the All-Patriot League Second Team and the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
No. 20 overall – Hakeem Lecky – Midfield – Syracuse
Lecky was a co-captain for the Orange during his junior season 2014, starting all 16 games as a member of the first midfield. He will also serve as a co-captain during his senior season in 2015. He scored 17 points for the Orange in 2014 on 15 goals and two assists.
No. 28 overall – Matt Poillon – Goal – Lehigh
Poillon posted a 7.23 GAA and 57.5 save percentage in the cage for the Mountain Hawks in 2014. He was named to the Second Team All-Patriot League in 2014 as well as honorable mention All-American for a third straight season.
No. 40 overall – Conrad Oberbeck – Attack – Yale
Oberbeck was named an honorable mention preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse in 2015. In 2014, he was named First-team All-Ivy, First-Team All-New England, Ivy League Co-Player of the Week and led the Bulldogs with 38 goals and 50 points.
No. 46 overall – Mike Malave – Midfield – Hofstra
Malave played in 16 games in 2014, scoring 33 points on 26 goals and seven assists. He picked up 11 groundballs and added a caused turnover for the Pride in 2014.
No. 58 overall – Lukas Mikelinich – Defense – Lehigh
The second Mountain Hawk selected by the Lizards, Mikelinich posted a career-high 37 groundballs and 18 caused turnovers in 2014.