Men's Lacrosse | 9/26/2018 3:11:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – Former RIT men's lacrosse standouts
Eli Salama (Coquitlam, British Columbia/Dr. Charles Best) and
Kyle Killen (Peterborough, Ontario/Crestwood Secondary) were selected in the 2018 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft, held on Sept. 25 in Philadelphia. Salama was taken in the first round, 12th overall by the Calgary Roughriders, while Killen was selected in the second round, 22nd overall by the Colorado Mammoth.
Salama is the fifth Tiger to be taken in the first round of the NLL Draft since 2010. Overall, 11 former Tigers have been drafted in the last eight years.
"It is great to see Eli and Kyle get the chance to continue their lacrosse careers at the professional level," said RIT head coach
Jake Coon. "Both players have worked very hard to get to where they are and we are excited to see them play in the NLL."
Both Salama and Killen enjoyed tremendous success for the Tigers. Last season, the duo helped lead RIT to a 21-1 record, tying the program record for victories in a season, as the team advanced to the NCAA National Semifinals. Killen helped RIT to a 41-4 record in his two seasons with the Tigers, while Salama guided RIT to an 80-7 mark in four seasons. Both student-athletes were key contributors on the 2017 squad that advanced to the NCAA Championship game.
Salama, a long-stick midfielder, garnered a bevy of individual honors in 2018. He was named the USILA Long-Pole of the Year as Division III's finest long-stick midfielder and was the 2018 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Salama was a USILA First Team All-American and All-Liberty League First Team selection.
Salama started all 22 games at long-stick midfield in 2018. He led the team with 29 caused turnovers and was fifth with 51 ground balls. Salama helped RIT's defense hold opponents to 8.41 goals per game in 2018, while contributing offensively, finishing 11th on the team in scoring with 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists. Overall, Salama appeared in 71 games over four seasons, recording 34 points, causing 70 turnovers and grabbing 113 ground balls.
"Eli is a big, strong athletic kid who will adjust well to the pro game," said RIT assistant coach
Shawn Wilkins. "His athleticism is his best weapon which is very important in the NLL. Eli was a great leader for our team over the last couple years and his ability to make plays at crucial times makes him a special player."
Killen enjoyed an incredible season for the Tigers in 2018 and was named the Iroquois National Award as Division III's most outstanding player along with the Lt. Col. J.I. (Jack) Turnbull Award as the outstanding attackman. In addition, Killen was named the 2018 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, Liberty League Tournament MVP and was a first team USILA All-American and Liberty League selection.
Killen broke a single-season RIT record with 86 goals, while adding 17 assists for 103 points in 2018. He was fifth nationally, averaging 3.91 goals per game. Killen, a 2017 Honorable Mention USILA All-American and All-Liberty League second team pick, tallied a program-record 21 man-up goals in 2018 and finished his career 20th all time in scoring with 158 career points in just two seasons. He scored at least five goals in a game eight times in 2018, including a career-best nine in a win over Clarkson and recorded 15 hat-tricks.
"Kyle has the ability to score goals in unique ways which makes him hard to defend," said Wilkins. "He has a quick first step and is a very accurate shooter which will help him in the NLL. Kyle was a great teammate and a tough, gritty player during his time at RIT."
