Aug. 8, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Todd Rassas, a three-time All-American defenseman at Notre Dame, was a member of the United States men’s national team that recently competed in the International Lacrosse Federation World Championship. The U.S. was a perfect 6-0 before falling to the host nation Canada in the gold medal-game on July 22 in London, Ontario. The loss ended the chance for the U.S. to capture its seventh straight ILF championship.
Rassas played in all seven contests of the ILF in the defense for the U.S. The squad posted six straight wins to begin the competition over Australia (20-8), England (25-5), Canada (13-12), Iroquois Nation (21-13), Japan (21-2) and Australia (13-10) before dropping the title game to Canada (15-10).
The former Notre Dame standout was a member of the 2002 U.S. team, which defeated Canada to win its sixth consecutive ILF Championship. Rassas was one of only seven players to make both the 2002 and 2006 squads. He currently plays professionally for the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). Rassas has also played professionally with the New Jersey Pride of the MLL and the Capital Lacrosse Club of the United States Club Lacrosse Association (USCLA).
Rassas was a three-time All-American for the Irish, earning third-team accolades in both 1996 and ’98, as well as second-team honors in ’97. He was part of the first Notre Dame team to win a game in the NCAA Tournament, and he was on squads that set school records in goals allowed per game and man-down defense. Rassas finished his career with 194 ground balls, which still stands as the second-most ever by an Irish defenseman.
Syracuse head coach John Desko was the head coach for the 2006 U.S. Men’s Team and he was assisted by Denison’s Mike Caravana, Hobart’s Matt Kerwick, and Scott Marr of Albany. Desko has won three national championships at Syracuse.
For more information on the U.S. team, including a full roster, please log on to lacrosse.org, the official website of U.S. Lacrosse.
-ND–