COLLEGE RECRUITING WATCH
ATHLETE: Eric Lavery
SPORT: Soccer
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Central Dauphin/U.S. Soccer Development Academy (Pennsylvania Classics)
COLLEGE: Marshall
THE DETAILS
Wrapping up a lengthy yet successful courtship that began some six months ago — and included an official visit to the West Virginia school in October — Lavery accepted Marshall’s scholarship offer three weeks ago by verbally committing to Bob Gray’s Thundering Herd program.
THE SCHOOL/PROGRAM
Located near the Ohio River in Huntington, W.Va., -- and named after former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall -- Marshall was founded in 1837 and is home to roughly 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Noted alums included former U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (West Virginia) and late comedian Soupy Sales. Comedian Billy Crystal also attended Marshall for one year -- when he was part of the school's baseball program -- while Randy Moss, Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington were Herd stars before heading off to the National Football League.
Gray, who has won more than 400 games at three collegiate stops, last season piloted the Herd to an 11-5-1 record, 3-5-0 in Conference USA.
THE DECISION
“I love the coaches a lot. They were the coolest coaches I met in the whole recruiting process,” said Lavery, who also was considering New Hampshire, Mercer and UMBC before settling on Marshall. “It’s in a small town and it’s not too big of a school. I think it’s a pretty good fit for me. Plus, the team seemed like a family.” ...
Projected as a holding/defensive midfielder by a Marshall staff that will lose eight seniors -- senior goalkeeper Robert Withrow, Conference USA's co-player of the year, is the first Herd player to land an invite to Major League Soccer's January combine in Fort Lauderdale -- the 6-1, 175-pounder has a legitimate opportunity to play early. Said Lavery: “They told me I could compete for a starting position right away.” ...
Another factor that may have played a slight role in Lavery’s ultimate choice was the movie “We Are Marshall,” a 2006 film starring Matthew McConaughey that depicted how a devastated Herd football program began rebuilding following a tragic 1970 plane crash. “It kind of inspired me,” said Lavery, who admitted he's not much of a film buff.
PROJECTED MAJOR
Not certain, but leaning toward business or something in the medical field.
THE ATHLETE
Blessed with size, athleticism and terrific technical ability, Lavery was a three-year starter in the midfield for a CD program that went 60-15-3, won two District 3-AAA championships, advanced to three state tournaments and claimed a share of the 2009 PIAA Class AAA crown. Although slowed by mono as a junior, Lavery finished his high school career with 44 points (13 goals, 18 assists). ...
Lavery opted to join Pennsylvania Classics’ U-18 entry in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy as a senior and has made eight appearances thus far for a 7-3-3 squad. ...
Lavery also played for the Classics’ U-16 team that reached the Development Academy’s 2011 national championship game in Milwaukee.
THEY’RE SAYING
“There’s a lot of guys out there who can either attack or defend — and I think Eric does a good job of both,” veteran CD coach Gregg Davis said. “He’s a pretty balanced player. He’s got a real good first touch. He’s good technically, very good tactically. And again, he’s gonna fit into that [NCAA Division I] level very, very well.” ...
“It’s a good fit for him, for sure,” said Classics coach Steve Klein, the former Hershey Wildcats/Harrisburg Heat star. “He’s more of a two-way midfielder, so he’s very versatile. He’s always been an attacking midfielder, but now he’s grown into a bigger-sized kid and he’s evolving into a more versatile player who can probably even drop in at center back. I look at him as a talented, versatile kid who is starting to blossom — which he has this last year.” ...
More Klein: “He really has turned into an athletic-type player. He always had the good technical ability, the soccer instincts. Now he can run and he’s fit. He’s getting better and better, which is great.”