ON CELENTANI: Good sized ... Really came along in the fall ... Could possibly squeak in some time ... Got a lot stronger and tougher in the offseason ... Has great skill with the ball off the ground ... Has potential now and into the future.
AS A JUNIOR IN 2011:
• Second-year starter on close defense, one of the top defensemen in the conference.
Started all 14 games and last 28 in a row. Has 32 groundballs and 18 caused turnovers this season (1.25 per game). Helped defense to a strong 8.37 GAA.
• Fourth on team in GBs and second in CTs.
• Great defense on Penn State attackman Matt Mackrides, keeping him without a goal in OT win at PSU (5/4). Had two caused turnovers.
• Solid defense with five groundballs and three caused turnovers vs. #8 Hofstra (4/23).
• Tremendous defense with career-high tying five groundballs and a caused turnover in 3OT win over Drexel (4/16) as UMass held Dragons scoreless for final 26:28 of the game.
• Four groundballs, two caused turnovers at Albany (3/8).
• Named Co-UMass Athlete of The Week after great defense vs. Army (2/12).
• Defended All-American Garrett Thul of Army (2/12) and held him to one goal, two groundballs and two CTs.
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010: • Was starting close defenseman in second year in program. • Ranked 14th in NCAA with team-leading 25 caused turnovers (1.8 per game) with 31 groundballs in 14 starts. • Tied with Towson's Peter Mezzonotte for No. 1 in CAA in caused turnovers (1.8 per game). • Forced the game-sealing turnover to clinch win vs. #10 Georgetown (4/24). Also had first-career assist in the win. • Grabbed four groundballs in win at Penn State (4/3). • Played tremendous defense in helping to limit NCAA leading scorer Jamie Lincoln to just one goal in win over #6 Hofstra (3/27). Had two groundballs and caused turnover. • Had career-high five groundballs vs. Brown (3/23). • Had four groundballs and three caused turnovers vs. #13 Harvard (3/13). • Two caused turnovers, two groundballs vs. Albany (3/9). • Caused five turnovers and grabbed two groundballs vs. Hartford (2/20). • In first-career start, had four groundballs and two caused turnovers at Sacred Heart (2/12).
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009: • Freshman saw action during latter stages vs. Syracuse (4/25), vs. Fairfield (4/21), St. John's (4/4), Yale (2/28) and Sacred Heart (2/14).
BEFORE UMASS: Four-year defender for MacArthur High School in Levittown, N.Y., where he played under Christopher Bergerson ... Was a finalist for All-American as a senior ... Academic all-county as a junior and senior ... Played two years of varsity football and basketball where he was a captain and Academic All-Conference winner ... Athlete of the Year for MacArthur High School in 2008 ... Renaissance Card Holder from 2004-2008 ... Also, Golden II scholar athlete in 2008.
PERSONAL: Thomas Elmo Celentani ... Son of Mary and Ralph Celentani ... Brother of Jason (31) and Christopher (16) ... Born in Rockville Centre, N.Y. ... Majors in Psychology.
Career Highs Assists/Points: 1 vs. Georgetown (4/24/10) Groundballs: 5 at Brown (3/23/10), vs. Drexel (4/16/11), vs. Hofstra (4/23/11) Caused Turnovers: 5 vs. Hartford (2/20/10)
