SPARKS, Md. — University of Denver faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste, a member of the U.S. national team, went first overall to the Boston Cannons in the 2018 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft at US Lacrosse headquarters.

Baptiste, the lone collegian to make the final travel roster for the U.S. team that will compete in the Federation of International Lacrosse Men’s World Championship in Israel, has won 71.7 percent of his faceoffs in a historic career. Baptiste ranks second in NCAA history with 1,076 career wins, just 41 away from tying Kevin Massa’s (Bryant 2012-15) record of 1,117.

Baptiste, already a three-time first team All-American, has helped Denver to a 9-2 record this season, winning 77.6 percent of his faceoffs and has also scored six goals.

Another U.S. national team member went second overall with Atlanta selecting University of Maryland midfielder Connor Kelly. Kelly, who is on the U.S. training roster, but did not make the final travel roster to Israel, is having a monster senior season for the Terps.

Through 11 games, Kelly already has a career-best 60 points (32g, 28a), including a 10-point day (3g, 7a) in a 12-10 win over Notre Dame and an eight-point effort (4g, 4a) last Sunday in an 11-10 win over Rutgers.

Jutst prior to the draft, new MLL commissioner Sandy Brown also announced that Andre Gudger, founder and CEO of Eccolon is the new owner of the Atlanta franchise.

Connor Fields, who was putting up video game numbers for Albany before being hampered by an injury, went third overall to Charlotte. In nine games, Fields has 58 points (26g, 32a) and his 6.4 points per game ranks second in the country. As a junior, Fields was a Tewaaraton finalist after piling up 117 points (55g, 62a), the fourth-highest season in Division I history.

Dallas traded up to get the fourth pick and selected Yale attackman Ben Reeves. Reeves, a Tewaaraton finalist as a sophomore and junior, has 67 points (35g, 32a) through 12 games for the Bulldogs this season. He had already set the school career points mark with 201 through his first three seasons.

With the fifth pick, New York selected Johns Hopkins midfielder Joel Tinney. Tinney has been a key cog in Hopkins’ offense, helping the Blue Jays to an 8-3 record. Tinney is tied for the team lead with 24 assists and also has 13 goals. A two-time All-American honoree, Tinney also plays the wing on faceoffs and ranks second on the team with 24 groundballs.
 

The first defensive player to go in the draft was Denver’s longstick midfielder Sean Mayle, who went to Chesapeake at No. 6. The California native has been a defensive force for the Pioneers, a key wing player on faceoffs and has scored five goals in eight games this season.

A big senior season vaulted Rutgers attackman Jules Heningburg into the first round as he was selected No. 7 overall by Florida. An honorable mention All-American last year, Heningburg , a four-year starter, leads Rutgers with a career-best 61 points (32g, 29a).

Penn’s longstick midfielder Connor Keating went eighth overall to Denver. Keating has been a dynamic offensive force from the longstick position throughout his career, scoring 13 goals in 2016 and 10 last season. This season he has three goals and four assists for the Quakers, giving him 31 goals in his career.

Rounding out the first round selections was Duke attackman Justin Guterding going to defending champion Ohio. Guterding, one of the most prolific scorers in the college ranks in recent years, is fifth in the country in scoring (5.9 ppg) with 77 points (43g, 34a) in 13 games.

The nine first round selections will try to become the first Rookie of the Year in the league to come from the opening round since Kieran McArdle in 2014. Last year’s top rookie was Chesapeake’s Josh Byrne, a third-round pick out of Hofstra that was actually the Bayhawks fifth pick in the draft. In 2016, Jack Kelly helped Denver to the MLL championship despite not getting drafted until the seventh round out of Brown. In 2015, Charlotte’s Joey Sankey earned Rookie of the Year honors after getting drafted in the second round out of North Carolina.

Round 1 Selections

1. Boston: Trevor Baptiste, FO, Denver
2. Atlanta: Connor Kelly, M, Maryland
3. Charlotte: Connor Fields, A, Albany
4. Dallas (from Chesapeake): Ben Reeves, A, Yale
5. New York: Joel Tinney, M, Johns Hopkins
6. Chesapeake (from Dallas): Sean Mayle, LSM, Denver
7. Florida: Jules Heningburg, A, Rutgers
8. Denver: Connor Keating, LSM, Penn
9. Ohio: Justin Guterding, A, Duke

Round 2 Selections

10. Atlanta: Kyle McClancy, M, Albany
11. Florida: Tyler Warner, M, Yale
12. Charlotte: Tim Rotanz, M, Maryland
13. Chesapeake: Ian MacKay, M, Vermont
14. Charlotte: Ben Randall, D, Ohio State
15. Ohio (from Dallas): Bryce Young, D, Maryland
16. Florida: Michael Rexrode, D, Rutgers
17. Denver: Peter Conley, M, Duke
18. Dallas (from Ohio): John Sexton, LSM, Notre Dame

Round 3 Selections

19. Boston: Will Sands, A, Bucknell
20. Atlanta: Austin Sims, M, Princeton
21. Charlotte: Morgan Cheek, A, Harvard
22. Ohio: Christian Mazzone, M, Rutgers
23. Dallas (from Ohio): Chris Keating, D, Yale
24. Florida: Jake Miller, D, Brown
25. Denver: Foster Huggins, D, Loyola
26. Boston: Tom Kennedy, M, Bryant
27. New York: Troy Reh, D, Albany

Round 4 Selections

28. Charlotte: Scott Hooper, D, Virginia
29. Denver: Chris Cloutier, A, North Carolina
30. Charlotte: Noak Rak, FO, Massachusetts
31. Ohio: Kenny Massa, FO, Bryant
32. Atlanta: Christian Cuccinello, A, Villanova
33. Dallas: Jordan Dowiak, M, Cornell
34. Florida: Jack Concannon, G, Hofstra
35. Denver: Chase Young, M, Michigan
36. Ohio: Carlson Milikin, M, Notre Dame

Round 5 Selections

37. Dallas: Sean O'Brien, M, Bucknell
38. Atlanta: Griffin Feiner, M, Hartford
39. Charlotte: Jason Alessi, M, Yale
40. Atlanta: Hunter Forbes, FO, Jacksonville
41. New York: Conor Mackie, FO, Yale
42. Chesapeake: Ryan Hursey, M, Georgetown
43. Florida: Greg Weyl, D, Mercyhurst
44. Denver: Matt Gilray, LSM, Bucknell
45. Ohio: Zach Bryant, D, Robert Morris

Round 6 Selections

46. Boston: Kevin McGeary, A, Penn
47. Atlanta: Erik Evans, D, Ohio State
48. Charlotte: Adam DiMillo, M, Maryland
49. Chesapeake: Shack Stanwick, A, Johns Hopkins
50. New York: Dan Morris, G, Maryland
51. Atlanta: Will McBride, M, North Carolina
52. Florida: Ryan Beville, M, Jacksonville
53. Denver: Connor O'Hara, A, Bucknell
54. Ohio: Ryan Keenan, M, Penn State

Round 7 Selections

55. Boston: Anthony Johnson, D, Bryant
56. Atlanta: Jack Korzelius, M, Dartmouth
57. Charlotte: James Barclay, D, Providence
58. Chesapeake: Kyle Tucker, D, Salisbury
59. New York: Justin Reh, A, Albany
60. Dallas: McLean Chicquen, M, Jacksonville
61. Florida: Jerry O'Connor, D, Yale
62. Denver: Bryce Wasserman, A, Monmouth
63. Dallas: Hunter Moreland, FO, Johns Hopkins