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Another Former Colorado State Star Makes Mammoth Jump to Pros
By Alex Smith
November 12, 2003
In 2002, Mike Napolilli became the first player from Colorado State
University to make a professional lacrosse team when the Colorado Mammoth
drafted him in the late rounds of the National Lacrosse League draft. This
year, Kale Nelson, a three-time captain and midfielder/attackman for the
Rams, made his mark at the open tryouts and was one of only three players
selected to stay with the team.
Nelson, a 6’2”, 220-pound graduate of Rangeview High School in Aurora, CO,
was a captain at Colorado State for three seasons. While amassing 24 goals
and 18 assists during his career, Nelson played every position on the field.
A knee injury brought Nelson’s senior season to a close, but not before he
had become known as one of the toughest and most reliable players on the
squad.
Flip Naumburg, who coached both Napolilli and Nelson at Colorado State,
thinks that Nelson’s aggressiveness and style of play will translate well to
the indoor game.
“(His) ability to get inside will help him at the next level,” said
Naumburg. “He is big enough to take a pounding and he should be able to let
his formidable basketball skills loose in the box game.”
Nelson’s bruising style contrasts with the scoring ability and shot power
that Napolilli possesses, and early reports are that the Mammoth will use
him on the defensive end of the field.
“Mike plays with his head up, smart, and he has a cannon of a shot that is
very effective from certain spots,” said Naumburg when comparing his former
players’ styles. “Kale will need to be ‘blue collar’ in his approach to the
game, working hard to create close range power shots or dunks for himself or
his teammates.”
The highlight of Nelson’s 2003 season was a six goal, two assist outburst
against the University of Florida. Breaking into the CSU system as a solid
defensive and transition midfielder, Nelson played the majority of the 2003
season at attack. He played close defense and long pole middie at times
during the 2002 season while serving as one of the team’s best short stick
defensemen.
Nelson finished his career with two national championship rings while being
named to the USL-MDIA All-American Team twice. He was one of three players
from the open tryout to make the Mammoth, and the only from a USL-MDIA
school. Matt Coughlin (Ohio Wesleyan) and Travis Taylor (University of
Denver) were the other two players selected.
The Colorado Mammoth just finished their first season in Denver after
relocating from Washington after the 2001/2002 season. Their 9-7 record was
good enough to win the Eastern Division in the NLL and garnered them a
playoff spot. The Mammoth were second in attendance in the NLL and received
excellent fan support for the entire season. |
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Flip's Journal
Read a very interesting log of the CSU head coach's thoughts. |
All-Time Points Leaders
since 1998 season: G-A-Pts
1 Mike Roth ('01) 243-132-375
2 Mike Napolilli ('02) 170-160-330
3 Pat Shanley ('98) 138-68-206
4 Ryan Davis ('02) 107-66-173
5 Kelten Johnson ('04) 76-93-169
6 Nick Stanitz-Harper ('05) 123-37-160
7 Jim Hasson ('03) 74-46-120
8 Tim Farquhar ('05) 74-43-117
9 Ryan Ferrin ('00) 60-53-113
10 Brian Linehan ('99) 62-34-96
All-Time Save Leaders
since 1998 season: Saves
1 Alex Smith ('03) 232
2 Cale Vanvelkinburgh ('01) 188
3 Pete Jokisch ('06) 117
See Full Lists
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Schedule/Results
2003 Game Results
2/15 - Arizona - Win 6-5
2/22 - Colorado - Win 12-11 OT
2/25 - Northern Colorado - Cancelled
3/1 - Colorado College - Cancelled
3/2 - Illinois - Win 9-3
3/7 - Virginia Tech - Win 15-4
3/8 - Florida - Win 18-12
3/9 - Florida State - Cancelled
3/10 - Auburn - Cancelled
3/25 - Oregon - Win 17-8
3/29 - Boise State - Cancelled
3/30 - Galyan's - Cancelled
3/30 - Colorado College - Loss 12-11
4/2 - Denver U. Club - Cancelled
4/4 - BYU - Win 7-6
4/5 - Utah Valley State - Win 17-5
4/5 - Utah - Loss 4-5
4/8 - Sonoma State - Win 6-5
4/12 - Michigan - Win 11-6
4/19 - Colorado - Win 7-5
4/22 - Northern Colorado - Win 25-3
RMILL Play-Offs
4/25 - Utah - Win 13-2
4/26 - BYU - Win 8-7
USLIA National Championship
5/7 - Boston College - Win 18-2
5/8 - Texas A&M - Win 12-9
5/9 - Sonoma State - Win 8-6
5/10 - UC Santa Barbara - Win 6-4
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USLIA National Poll
Announced on 5/16/03
1 Colorado State (30) - 18-2
2 UC Santa Barbara - 21-2
3 Sonoma State - 17-3
4 Brigham Young - 13-6
5 Texas A & M - 20-4
6 Michigan - 16-5
7 Florida - 15-5
8 Simon Fraser - 13-3
9 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo - 11-8
10 Oakland - 15-3
11 Minnesota - Duluth - 18-3
12 Chico State - 12-5
13 Colorado - 11-9
14 Chapman - 12-7
15 Arizona - 9-8
16 Auburn - 10-6
17 UC San Diego - 10-4
18 Boston College - 12-3
19 Oregon - 11-5
20 Georgia Tech - 11-5
21 Washington U. - 8-7
22 Virginia Tech - 11-7
23 Stanford - 6-6
24 Texas Tech - 10-3
25 California - 10-5 |
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