By Matt McDonough, Special to the Register

College players have the opportunity to showcase their skills for Major League Lacrosse one final time today in New Haven.

The MLL Warrior Major League Challenge and collegiate draft will take place on Yale’s campus. College All-Stars will face off against Team USA at the Yale Bowl at 2:30 p.m., followed by the draft at 7 p.m. at the Lanman Center.

“The full event is our 2010 collegiate draft, and we have an exhibition game for top invited graduated seniors to play in a game under MLL rules to impress scouts and general managers,” said Carl Uttaro, director of lacrosse operations of the MLL.

“The day serves two purposes,” Uttaro said. “It’s the final event before the draft, as well as an exhibition that is part of the U.S. national team’s preparation for their world tournament this summer.”

Their is no longer an MLL team in Connecticut, and the two closest franchises are on Long Island and in Boston, but Uttaro believes that New Haven was a great location for seniors to end their college careers, as well as start their professional ones.

“There was a couple of factors. Location was one, being New Haven is a pretty central location,” Uttaro said. “There are a lot of guys from New England, Long Island or the tri-state area in the game and draft.”

The presence of youth players should help the event grow as the Connecticut-New York Youth Lacrosse Association is also having a tournament at the Yale fields. Uttaro hopes it will bring more spectators to the exhibition game.

“There will be a couple thousand youth players, so hopefully most of those players will be able to check out the MLL All-Stars,” Uttaro said. “Hopefully there will be a big crowd.”

”Connecticut-New York has been a huge help with scheduling their games around the all-star game, and that will help kids watch the game in between their own games.”

“I think it’s a cool aspect of our league and lacrosse in general, that it’s kind of a small world,” Uttaro said. “There will be guys playing against former college teammates. Even when they come into the league itself, there will be former college teammates facing off against teammates on a regular basis.” Continued...

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Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Virginia, Georgetown, UMass and UMBC have alumni playing on different sides. As for Yale, the Bulldogs are not only hosting the event, but also have an outgoing senior playing in the exhibition game. Nick Tsouris will suit up for the College All-Stars and will get another opportunity to play in New Haven. Tsouris, a senior from Stony Brook, N.Y., was an All-New England and second-team All-Ivy League pick.

“We are very excited about Nick playing in the game,” Yale coach Andy Shay said. “We think he is one of the best players in the country.”

Tsouris scooped up 29 ground balls and had three assists this season. He received the Winthrop A. Smith award, presented to the Yale player that inspires his teammates with conditioning and team play. The short-stick defensive midfielder will play with the country’s best today in what looks to be a showcase for both Tsouris and the Yale lacrosse community.

“It’s an honor to be the center of lacrosse for the weekend,” Shay said. “We’re very excited to be a part of it. I hope it is a huge crowd. I don’t know what to expect.”

Former Bridgeport and Philadelphia Barrage coach Roy Colsey will coach the College All-Stars. Mike Pressler of Bryant will coach Team USA.

McDonough is an intern for the Register.

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