Elliott
goes lacrosse, Seton Hill
By
John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
BUTLER TWP — The choices were plentiful for Nick Elliott. In his mind, the
decisions were obvious.
Recruited by a number of schools for football and lacrosse, the
"I've loved lacrosse since I began playing it in eighth grade,"
Elliott said. "Seton Hill has an outstanding forensic science program.
That's what I want to major in. I want to become a state cop."
Washington & Jefferson, La Roche, Mercyhurst, John Carroll and Thiel were
other schools that recruited him for lacrosse. W&J, Allegheny and Bethany
had interest in him for football.
Elliott was a two-year starter at outside linebacker for the Golden Tornado
before a torn ACL ended his senior season early.
"The injury didn't turn me off football," he said. "I had been
leaning toward lacrosse before I got hurt."
Elliott carries a 3.4 grade point average. He will play defense for Seton Hill,
the same position he's always played.
"We've got two seniors graduating who have been in our steady rotation
defensively, so younger players will get an opportunity to play for us next
year," Seton Hill coach Brian Novotny said.
"Our philosophy is to put the best kids on the field, regardless of age.
Come in here and show you belong on the field, you'll be out there."
Novotny is in his fifth year with the Griffins. The program itself is only five
years old.
After finishing 1-9 in its first year, the program has steadily improved,
posting records of 4-9, 8-6 and 9-5 since. The Griffins were ranked as high as
No. 7 nationally in Division II last season.
This year's team is 9-3 and riding a seven-game winning streak. Seton Hill is
in its first year as a member of the 11-team East Coast Conference.
"Four teams in our league are ranked in the top 10 right now and this
league has won 11 NCAA lacrosse national championships since 1993,"
Novotny said. "It is extremely competitive.
"We beat sixth-ranked Dowling (NY) in overtime last year and lost to
fifth-ranked New York Tech in overtime this year. Our program is on the verge
of becoming a consistent top-10 team,."
The East Coast Conference has had a team in the Division II national title game
16 times in the last 17 years.
Winning is what Elliott wants to do.
"We all started playing together since ninth grade and we've formed a
tight bond on the field," Elliott said. "Playing experience as a
group pays off.
"My goal at Seton Hill is to become a starter and help that team continue
its winning ways. I like the direction they're headed and I plan to become a
part of it sooner rather than later."