Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/6/16
From Press Release
Saint Joseph’s senior attackman Mike Rastivo (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville/Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.)) will miss the 2017 men’s lacrosse season due to a knee injury suffered at practice this fall, it was announced by head coach Taylor Wray on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re disappointed to lose a great player and an even better leader for the upcoming season,” said Wray. “Mike works so hard in the offseason to continually improve his game, and I feel for him that he won’t have the opportunity to compete this spring. I know how much that means to him and how much he cares about our team and his teammates. Unfortunately, injuries are a part of all sports, and like any team, we will deal with it collectively. Our sports medicine staff, our coaches, and his teammates will be there to support Mike as he works through his rehab and gets back into action.
“Mike is one of the most dedicated and hard working athletes I have coached, and I expect him to come back from this injury stronger and more focused than ever. He has continued to be a strong leader for us on the sidelines, coaching and encouraging his teammates, and we would expect nothing less.”
A USILA/Nike All-American Honorable Mention last season, Rastivo led SJU in points (57), goals (35), and assists (22) and ranked among the Northeast Conference’s top three in points per game (3.56), goals per game (2.19), and assists per game (1.38) en route to 2016 NEC Player of the Year and 2016 NEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Rastivo scored in 14 of 16 total games last spring, highlighted by a career-high, six-goal performance in the Hawks’ overtime win over Bryant.
A native of South Setauket, N.Y., Rastivo owns 105 goals over his three-year career, which ties for fourth all-time on Hawk Hill. He has led the Hawks in points and goals the last two seasons and ranked second in both categories as a freshman in 2014.