Two of the eight players who were suspended and eventually dismissed from the University of Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team last February have been reinstated to the Minuteman roster for the 2009 season.
Jimmy Connolly, the leading scorer for UMass in 2007, and Ryan Marcus, a former South Hadley high school standout, are expected to be added to the UMass roster when practice begins at the start of spring semester. Marcus is enrolled in winter classes, while Connolly is expected to re-enroll at the university for the spring semester.
Coach Greg Cannella confirmed the return of both players and said they lost a year of athletic eligibility. Connolly will be a senior and Marcus will be a sophomore this season.