Brendan Loftus was one of five SU players taken in Wednesday's MLL Draft. The Orange's five draft choices were the most of any school.
Five Orange Selected in 2008 MLL Collegiate Draft
5/29/2008 8:55:11 AM | Men's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Five members of the 2008 NCAA champion Syracuse lacrosse team were selected in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft on Wednesday, May 28. The Orange had a pair of first-round picks in attackman Mike Leveille (Delmar, N.Y.), who went third overall to New Jersey, and midfielder Steven Brooks (Libertyville, Ill.) who was taken with the sixth pick by Chicago. Close defenseman Kyle Guadagnolo (Jordan, N.Y.) went in the second round to Rochester (18th overall) and midfielders Danny Brennan (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Brendan Loftus (Watertown, N.Y.) were third-round choices. Brennan was picked by New Jersey (21st overall) and Loftus was tabbed by San Francisco (25th overall).
Leveille’s stay with New Jersey didn’t last long as he was part of a draft night trade that sent him and the 23rd overall pick to Chicago for Stephen Peyser and the 21st and 30th overall selections. Leveille will team with Brooks and his brother, Kevin, on the Machine.
Brennan was a beneficiary in the trade as New Jersey selected him with the 21st pick obtained in the deal.
Leveille, a first-team All-American, was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Championship. He tallied 19 points, including 11 goals, in the Orange’s four tournament victories. He concluded the season ranked third nationally in points per game (4.61), seventh in goals per game (2.72) and seventh in assists per contest (1.89). Leveille led Syracuse with 49 goals and 83 total points. He finished his SU career ninth in school history in goals (132), 12th in career assists (83) and 12th in career points (215).
Brooks won the Lt. Donald C. MacLaughlin, Jr. Award as nation’s top midfielder in 2008. He ranked third on the team in points (41) and goals (28). He had five game-winning tallies and tied his career high with four scores at Johns Hopkins on March 15, including the golden goal in overtime. For his career, Brooks scored 67 goals and notched 101 points.
Guadagnolo started 46 consecutive games for the Orange from 2006-08. He registered a personal-best 36 ground balls this season and finished with 109 for his career. Guadagnolo helped anchor an SU defense that posted a 7.62 goals-against average this season, its lowest mark since 1970.
Brennan led the nation in faceoff winning percentage. He won 66.7 percent of his draws, including 19 in the Orange’s semifinal win against Virginia. He was 214-for-321 at the X in 2008 and finished with the fourth-best single-season faceoff winning percentage in school history. His 214 victories ranks fourth on SU’s season record list and his 485 career faceoff wins is second on the program’s all-time ledger.
Loftus saved his best season for last, surpassing his career totals in goals, assists and points in his final season. He scored 25 goals, recorded four assists and tallied 29 points in 2008. He notched a career-best four goals, including the game-winner in double overtime, against Georgetown during the regular season. Loftus contributed two goals in the team’s victory against Johns Hopkins in the national title game.
Wednesday night’s draft featured five rounds and 50 total selections. Syracuse’s five draft picks were the most of any school.
Highlights | Women's Lacrosse vs. Duke
Saturday, April 04
Regy Thorpe Postgame Press Conference | vs. Duke
Saturday, April 04
Syracuse Softball Highlights vs. Pittsburgh 4/4/26
Saturday, April 04
MLAX | Postgame Press Conference at North Carolina
Saturday, April 04
