Advice from friend leads Bryant to University of Hartford
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Judy, father, Eric, and North coach Matt Smart. Bryant will be the sixth Spartan to play lacrosse at a Division I school. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Williamsville North senior Evan Bryant visited colleges all over the country but it wasn't until he took the advice of a friend and visited the University of Hartford that he found what he was looking for.

"I was looking at Nazareth College and Washington College in Maryland and Pete (Barone, former North lacrosse player) told me to give the university a shot and I fell in love with it - the school, academics, and lacrosse," said Bryant, who signed a Division I National Letter of Intent on May 25 in the North gym to play lacrosse at the school.

Bryant becomes the sixth North boys lacrosse player to currently play at the Division I level. Barone plays defense at the University of Hartford, goalie Rob Eimer was a walk-on at the University of Virginia, Steve Koshansky plays defense at Army, and Eric Rickan and Justin Rychlicki play defense and midfield, respectively, at Canisius College.

The University of Hartford is gaining a great player. Bryant, primarily an attackman who can also play in the midfield, has scored 135 goals and 99 assists over his four-year career at North and last year tied Rychlicki for most goals scored in a single season at North with 45. He's also a three-time second team all-league selection.

"It's nice not only for Hartford but for our program that kids are going on and accomplishing things that we talked about three or four years ago," said North coach Matt Smart.

Smart believes that Bryant is fully capable of making an impact in his freshman year.

"He's a leader and has the ability to motivate others on the field," Smart said. "At times he's like an assistant coach out there."

Barone is not the only familiar face Bryant will see at the University of Hartford. Also on the team are goalie Jon McMahon, a Sweet Home grad, and midfielder Jacob Eustice, a graduate of Orchard Park.

Lacrosse wasn't always Bryant's first love. He played football, hockey, and baseball before Ed Greenway, his sixth grade gym coach and also East lacrosse coach, introduced him to the sport. In the eighth grade, classmate Pat Dwyer asked Bryant if he wanted to play in a lacrosse winter league. Now as Bryant says, "There's never a day when there's not a stick in my hand."

Bryant, who also played four years of football, three on varsity, and JV basketball his freshman and sophomore years, wants to be remembered at North for his ability to create on the lacrosse field and make other teammates better.

North Athletics Director Steve Ferenczy added that Bryant will also be missed as "our No. 1 sports fan at other school events."

Bryant, a National Honor Society student, wants to double major at the University of Hartford in either finance and business administration or communication and public relations.

The University of Hartford plays lacrosse in the American East Conference and finished 2-13 this past season.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com