HEMPSTEAD, New York – The 2015 Marist Men's Lacrosse season started with a 7-6 win over Air Force on February 14. Almost three months later, the squad captured the second MAAC championship in program history with a triumph over Quinnipiac. Furthering cementing its presence in Marist history, the Red Foxes captured their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating Bryant in the opening round.
 
While four years passed since the Red Foxes accomplished those impressive feats, three Marist graduates from that squad continue to spread the legacy of the program in the professional lacrosse scene.
 
Mike Begley, '15, J.D. Recor, '17, and Brian Corrigan, '18 now don the lime green and black uniforms of the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, one of the top outdoor lacrosse leagues in North America. After joining the team earlier in the season, all three made the opening day roster ahead of the Lizards' season debut on May 31.
 
"To continue our lacrosse careers and play with each other is something you really can't put into words," mentioned Corrigan after the Lizards defeated the Dallas Rattlers at James M. Shuart Stadium on June 29. "It means something special to not only me, but to the Marist lacrosse program."
 
"They were freshman or sophomores when I was a senior (in 2015), so I was leading them when they were the young bucks," said Begley of Corrigan and Recor. "It's still kind of the same role a little bit, showing them the way of MLL."
 
Begley knows his way through Major League Lacrosse. After completing his senior season with All-MAAC First Team honors and a USILA Division I All-American Honorable Mention, he joined the Boston Cannons in the 2016 campaign. He was there until midway through 2017, when he joined the Atlanta Blaze through 2018. In his first season in New York, Begley has registered three goals through five games.
 
Though he is the oldest Red Fox alumnus on the roster, Begley still credits his Marist roots building the foundation for his skills today.
 
"I used my game at Marist to shape my game in the pros. (It) shaped me into the player I am."
 
 
Those same sentiments extend to Recor, the program's all-time assists leader whose class went to four consecutive MAAC championships. Like Begley, Recor was selected in the first MLL supplemental draft on October 24, 2018 by the Ohio Machine before joining the Lizards.  
 
"It's a great opportunity to represent the Lizards and Marist College," lauded Recor. "Being able to play the game I love is a blessing, and it's great to strap on the pads, even three years after college."

Recor has a unique position as both a professional lacrosse player and an assistant coach for the Red Foxes. It allows him to set an example for the current crop of student-athletes and show that there are opportunities for them after their Marist careers.

"(Head Coach) Keegan Wilkinson uses me as an example. I can show them that if you put the work in, you can keep playing after you're done at Marist. If you want to achieve this, it's possible at Marist."
 

What a night- here is the pre game intro for Coach Recor from last nights @LizardsLacrosse game against the @DenverOutlaws in opening night #lacrosse action of the @MLL_Lacrosse season! Way to be @jrec3 #MARIST #FAM pic.twitter.com/6SYGhvlK81

— Marist Lacrosse (@Marist_MensLax) June 1, 2019

Corrigan is the most-recent success story of a Marist alumnus joining the pros. The Lizards drafted the former two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and Tewaaraton Watch List nominee in the supplemental draft after General Manager Joe Spallina reached out to the goalkeeper.
 
Corrigan wanted to make the jump to professional lacrosse, but had to work harder to make it a reality. He praised Marist's commitment to creating a winning culture for fueling that determination.
 
"Coach Wilkinson has done a great job with that program, building it into where it is today. What he's done from a coaching and recruiting standpoint, getting some of the best kids in the country, and allowing them to (be able to) play at the next level, it's a testament to him and a testament to his coaching staff."
 
The Red Fox pipeline extends beyond these three members of the 2015 team. Nick Armstrong, '11 was added to the Denver Outlaws roster in 2012. Joseph Radin, '16 had his name called by the Lizards in the 2016 draft.  
 
The alumni who have carved their names into the Marist history books now look to set and example and show current and future Red Foxes what opportunities the Marist network provides.
 
"If you look at me, Brian, and Mike, you see three guys that graduated recently, all from three different years," said Recor. "That number will continue to grow as we bring in the top student-athletes to Marist."