Jackson “Jack” McCracken has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and soccer career with the Loyola Marymount University Lions.
Jack has been a constant presence for the Pateadores U18 United States Development Academy Team for the past two seasons. At LMU, he will be joining Pateadores Academy Director Matt Tutton who is an assistant coach at the Playa Del Rey campus as well as six Pateadores alumni on the Lions roster. Former Pateadores players competing for Loyola Marymount this coming year include David Ponce, Tyler Krumpe, Mitch Boland, Jonas Reiter, Eric Brunter and recent transfer Jordan Wolff.
The Lions were the co-champions of the West Coast Conference this past season and Jack’s versatility will complement the talent already on the roster. Jack is an active two way player who can score goals, set up his teammates and work back to defend. Coach Tutton comments, “Jack is an athletic and technical player that has shown the ability to play well as a defender and a midfielder. I think his approach to the game and his skill will translate well at the collegiate level and I am excited to see him take the next step in soccer.”
The U18 Pateadores 2010-11 United States Development Academy season is seven games old and the Pats record of 4 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws puts them in the thick of the playoff hunt. Pateadores U18 Coach Todd Saldana is looking to McCracken to help lead the team down the stretch with the ultimate goal of a playoff position this coming June.