By Mike Caputo
Colliniates, 23, was selected 25th overall by the New Jersey Pride in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft held at Stony Brook University on June 1. Major League Lacrosse is an outdoor professional league with 10 teams stretching from Boston to San Francisco. The Atlantic Beach native who attended Lawrence High School ('03), was graduated from Villanova University in May and will now try to make his mark in pro lacrosse. Collinates said his experience as a lacrosse player at Villanova and Lawrence prepared him for the professional ranks and he feels ready to go.
"It is a faster paced game and there is going to be more talent on the field because it is the best players from college," said Colliniates. "It will take a little time to adjust, but my season just ended a couple of weeks ago so it's not like I haven't been playing a while."
During his time at Lawrence High School, Colliniates helped lead the Golden Tornadoes to three consecutive appearances in the Nassau County Boy's Lacrosse quarterfinals. Former Lawrence High School Coach Chris Passuello, now the head boy's lacrosse coach at Hewlett, remembers Colliniates for his quiet and dedicated leadership.
"Chris was a tremendously competitive kid who we brought up as a sophomore to varsity because he was really committed to lacrosse at that age," said Passuello. "Chris led by a real hard work ethic."
On the field, Colliniates is known by many as a face-off "specialist," as his former coach put it. During his senior year at Villanova, Colliniates won 193 of 311 face-offs, which translates into an eye-opening .621 percentage. This ranked him second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), placed him sixth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) face-off win percentage category and put him in third among Villanova's all-time face-off leaders.
Face-offs are Colliniates' specialty, and winning face-offs will be a major portion of his role on the New Jersey Pride. Colliniates is ready to put his expertise to work for his new team.
"That is what I am going to do there and I have no problem with that," said Collinates. "I really enjoy it and I take pride in what I do."
At Villanova, Colliniates also led the nation in ground balls per game (9.07) and stands atop the school's all-time career leaders in ground balls (342). The Atlantic Beach native's strong finish at Villanova didn't go unnoticed as he was named CAA Player of the Week for the week of April 3, and was honored as a part of the all-CAA second team. Villanova also recognized Colliniates as the team's Most Valuable Player and gave him a Team Ground Balls Award.
Beyond his notable accomplishments on the field, Pastuello emphasized Colliniates excellence off the field and inside the classroom.
"Another reason he went [to Villanova] is because he was a very good student as well as a lacrosse player," said Pastuello.
At Villanova, Colliniates was graduated with a bachleor's degree in finance. Not only has Colliniates already climbed to the professional ranks of lacrosse, but he has also stepped into the business world. Alongside his role with the New Jersey Pride, Colliniates has a full-time job with Merrill-Lynch in Manhattan.
Asked how he'll manage to juggling two professions, Colliniates said its very feasible, especially since all lacrosse league games are scheduled on weekends.
"The league is fairly new and obviously they realize guys can't make a full-time living off of it yet," said Colliniates. "A lot of guys have jobs during the week, have practice on weeknights and have games on Saturday."
The New Jersey Pride's coaching staff has not wasted any time incorporating their new player into the 2007 season, which is already in progress. As the season progresses, Colliniates has to be looking forward to last game of the Pride's schedule. That's when Colliniates makes his first pro appearance back on Long Island against the Lizards at Mitchell Field on August 11 at 7 p.m.
