Spring-Ford’s Hare joining the family at St. Joseph’s
When Zach Hare visited with the St. Joseph’s men’s lacrosse coaching staff, even just a Spring-Ford rising junior, he felt like he was part of the family.
Being a part of a lacrosse family is something Hare knows plenty about.
Next fall, Hare will become the second in his family to be playing Division I men’s lacrosse when he suits up for St. Joe’s, after signing a National Letter of Intent recently.
After giving a verbal commitment in the fall of his junior year, he will join the college ranks alongside older brother Ian, a former Spring-Ford standout defenseman and current Towson redshirt freshman.
“When he (Ian) first starting getting recruited, he would talk to me about all the things you need to do get noticed,’ Zach Hare said. “That was a learning tool for me, to know what to say, how to respond to questions, what coaches are looking for when they are recruiting players. He definitely helped me a lot.’
Not only did he enter into the recruitment process knowing what to expect, he has the play on the field to back it up. A Mercury All-Area first team selection in 2014 after a 39-goal, four-assist campaign as a midfielder, Hare’s connection was developed through his play with Duke’s Lacrosse Club.
“I was playing with Duke’s Lacrosse Club and one of my coaches (Chris Fallon) knew the assistant coach, Coach (Dan) Keating, at St. Joe’s and he started putting in a good word for me,’ Hare said. “They wound up coming to see me play and they were impressed.’
“I went for a couple visits and I fell in love with the school.’
Staying in the region, being close to Philadelphia and especially the academics played in St. Joe’s favor.
“The education side was very important to me when I was deciding. St. Joe’s definitely is one of the top schools in our area,’ Hare said. “The city of Philadelphia was a key factor, too. I love the city there, love the environment and St. Joe’s is right there.’
Hare will enter undecided on his major but is considering a business degree.
The rapid improvement of the Hawks’ program under head coach Taylor Wray and assistants Keating and Steve Grossi contributed, too.
“They are an up-and-coming team — they’re currently undefeated in their conference — and are on the verge of being nationally ranked in all of Division I,’ he said. “That said a lot to me.’
St. Joe’s is currently 6-0 in the Northeast Conference and 10-5 overall, following an 11-4 season in 2014, in the fourth season under Wray and his staff.
“They were all really great guys,’ Hare said. “They really made me feel like I was a part of the team, a part of the family even though I’m still in high school.’
The second-oldest of six, the Hares have become fixtures of the Spring-Ford lacrosse program — junior Liam Hare is a Rams’ starting defenseman.
“My parents (Steve and Maria Hare) always pushed us to be successful in any field we decided to pick up. Sports happened to be that,’ Zach said. “We started focusing more and more on lacrosse. My father was always there to help coach me and motivate me. All my brothers, we are always pushing each other and making ourselves better.’
No doubt Hare has made the Rams better, who are currently unbeaten in the Pioneer Athletic Conference and at 14-1 currently are No. 1 in laxpower.com’s Pennsylvania East ratings.
“The season has been flying by like crazy and I don’t want it to end. In your senior year, it’s there and it’s gone,’ Hare said.
“Hopefully we can make it to states and go far in districts. It’s always been on my mind since last year. After Avon Grove knocked us out last year, my first goal was to beat Avon Grove, which we did this year, and now move on further in districts than we have before.’
