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Red Lion lax standout Kessler commits to Hobart


Big-time lacrosse recruits are still a rarity in York County -- rare enough that when a local player garners some Division I offers, it merits attention. We first heard in the fall that Red Lion lacrosse standout Brandon Kessler had given a verbal commitment to Hobart College, a Division I school in upstate New York. The Lions senior made that commitment official Thursday, when he signed a letter of intent to join the Statesmen next season. Kessler notched 42 goals and 31 assists last season for the Lions, en route to Adidas Regional All-American honors. The 6-foot-4 attack/midfielder originally committed to Penn State the winter before his junior season, but after a coaching change in State College, the Nittany Lions new staff informed Kessler during the summer that it had pulled back his scholarship offer. Luckily, Kessler found a lifeline in Hobart, a college in Geneva, N.Y. "It definitely feels like I'm heading toward the next step," Kessler said by phone Thursday. "At first (Penn State pulling back its offer) was kind of heartbreaking. Then, after I found out some other schools were looking and interested, it kind of made my spirits get up a little bit. Now I have to get up there and prove that I can play." Another member of Red Lion's team also settled his future Thursday. Senior goalie Joe Patterson signed his letter of intent to play for York College next season. For more on Kessler and his commitment, check out tomorrow's Daily Record.