(June 5, 2004) — Ryan Boyle, the four-time All-American attackman from Princeton, was a member of the Rochester Rattlers for all of one day.
The Rattlers used the No. 2 overall pick in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft on Thursday to select Boyle, but on Friday they traded him and second-year midfielder Mike Mollot to the Philadelphia Barrage for goalie Tillman Johnson, midfielder Steve Vallone and a third-round choice in the 2005 draft.

The Rattlers are thin at goalie with only inexperienced Nazareth grad Jake Coon and C.J. Kemp on the roster after another inexperienced goalie, Mark Spruyt, announced his retirement from the MLL Friday.

Johnson was the 2003 Division I Goalie of the Year and the USILA Player of the Year from the University of Virginia. Though Virginia suffered through a disappointing 2004 season, Johnson was one of 15 players in the running for the Tewaaraton Trophy, the Heisman Trophy of Division I lacrosse, which was ultimately won by Syracuse attackman Michael Powell.

”We believe Johnson will be an All-Star in this league,” general manager Jody Gage said of the 2004 third-team All-American who is Virginia’s career saves leader.

Johnson, the best goalie available in the draft, was picked No. 3 overall by the Barrage. The Rattlers could have taken Johnson at No. 2, but by not doing so, they were able to pull off a two-for-two player swap plus pick up the additional draft pick next year.

Mollot had a goal and two assists in Rochester’s first two games this season after scoring 12-9-21 in 10 games last year when he joined the Rattlers as a third-round draft choice.

Vallone, from Corning, just completed his senior season at Syracuse, where he helped the Orange win the championship. Vallone was a second-team All-American and had 22 goals and 13 assists for the Orange.

Rochester also drafted Vallone’s fellow midfielders at Syracuse, Sean Lindsay (first round, No. 4 overall) and Kevin Dougherty, giving the team 10 former Orange players.

”We wanted to address our needs and we did,” said Gage. “We got goalies Tillman Johnson and Tony Russo (third round) and we strengthened our midfield with the addition of three players from Syracuse’s national championship team.”

Rochester (1-1) travels to Boston tonight to play the Cannons (2-0) at 7 p.m. at Boston University. Johnson had root canal surgery this week and will not be with the team, so Coon is expected to start in goal.