Huskers To Be Reunited On Lax Field

Justin Mabus ended his recruitment process this week, committing to Towson University.  

While Fairfield, Maryland, and Delaware had been in active pursuit of the 6-foot-2 middie, Mabus said it came down to the opportunity to play meaningful minutes right away. Mabus, who came alive during the end of Yorktown's 2010 campaign, said his love for Towson's campus and the relaxed environment also played a role in his decision to play for the Tigers.  

"I fell in love with it on my visit there," said the All-Section Mabus, who scored 13 goals and handed out 13 assists for the 11-8 Huskers in 2010.  

"They called me first, offering me (a scholarship) on the spot. I called them back and accepted. It was between Towson and Delaware."  

Mabus, who will soon pen his letter of intent, is also excited to join a familiar face in John Fennessey.  

Fennessey, a Yorktown Heights native, is a sophomore defensemen for the Tigers. At Yorktown High School, "Fenn" was a bullish figure at the forefront. The Under Armour All-American helped steer the Huskers to four regional titles. He shared a Section I championship with Mabus in 2009.  

"It's going to be great having him (Fennessy) on my side. That was another factor that led to my decision."

Mabus said the Tigers had been most consistent throughout the process. Maryland was the most prestigious program that had shown interest in Mabus, and St. John's looked as if they could use the nearby program's reliable 914-area connections (SJU assistant coach Brian Dalton, the former professional who starred at Lakeland-Panas, coached Mabus' sixth grade summer team and has been tight with him and other Yorktown players ever since) to reel in the recruit.  

Towson compiled a 7-8 record in 2010, registering a 4-1 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.  

With the most important decision out of the way before the start of his senior year, Mabus feels some major sense of relief. He said he no longer has to deal with the phone calls from coaches waiting in the wings. He no longer feels he has to prove himself every time he steps out on the field.  

 His feelings of relief resonate in teammate Ty Schuldt, a rising senior who made a verbal commitment to play at the University of Hartford.  

 "You just feel so much more relaxed when you're out there," said the lightning- quick Schuldt (25 goals, 9 assists in 2010), describing the stress-free aftermath of selecting a future lacrosse living room. "I think Justin's decision is going to reflect well on the team and I feel great about it. Now we can just be more focused on winning games."      

While the Huskers certainly didn't languish around the .500 mark in 2010, they didn't win games the frantic rate the traditional power is familiar with. A Section I championship eluded them in 2010, as crosstown rival Lakeland/Panas topped the Huskers in sudden death overtime, 8-7.  

 Mabus adapted to an enhanced role in 2010, when coach Dave Marr and company urged him to become more physical and utilize his body to make opponents slide.   

"The coaches expected so much more from the year before," said Mabus, who was cut as a freshman but played meaningful minutes as a sophomore. "They wanted me to go hard and draw the slide or score."    

Section I lacrosse guru John Kelly, who attends Yorktown and Lakeland/Panas lacrosse games as if he has season tickets, is impressed with Mabus' decision.  

"Since he was one of the younger guys and he got to wait his turn and see other All-Americans go through before him, Justin's got kind of like a veteran style," said Kelly.  

"He's a kid who can dodge, get his shot off on the fly, deliver checks, and you know he's also become more of a aggressive player overall, particularly towards the end of last season. Towson is a program where he can come in and make an immediate impact. Both sides are going to benefit from it. They have a great, veteran coach in Tony Seaman, who has brought Towson to the NCAA championship five times."

Kelly continued, "They knew what type of player they are going to invest four years in. They will nurture Justin's talent and utilize his athletic gifts the right way. They didn't just jump on him because he plays for Yorktown, they see the potential down the road. Seeing him join Fennessy is nice too, hopefully they can start a Yorktown-Towson pipeline over there because it really is a good program."