Pat Howell (O'Connell 2002) is the lone male diocesan student athlete currently playing Division I Lacrosse in the greater Washington area.

Howell, coached by Dick Abood at O'Connell, is currently a second-team midfielder/attack for the University of Maryland (College Park).

The history major is coached at Maryland by Dave Cottle (Salisbury State '78) and is currently a red-shirt sophomore.

The Terps have a 6-5 record, with wins versus: Georgetown, Towson, Bucknell, UMBC, North Carolina and Fairfield.

Howell has not scored this season, but scored his first collegiate goal last season versus Butler.

Five other former Virginia high school players also play for the Terrapins: redshirt senior midfielder Ian Healy and true junior midfielder Brendan Healy (both from Landon H.S.); true sophomores Steve Whittenberg and Jimmy Borell (both from Lake Braddock H.S.) and true freshman Quinn Cooke (Oakton H.S.).

"Pat is a strong, tough two-way midfielder," Cottle said. "He can also play attack, but needs to work on his stick handling. Pat has good footwork and improving skills."

The third-seeded Terrapins will play second-seeded arch-rival Virginia in the ACC Tournament semi-finals April 29 in Baltimore. Top-seeded Duke will square off with fourth-seeded North Carolina. The winners will play May 1 for the 2005 ACC Championship.

"I need to get a little bit smarter at the game of lacrosse," said Howell regarding increased playing time next season.