MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Pat Laconi is going pro.

The Loyola (Md.) senior short stick defensive midfielder — and son of Butler graduate and Butler County Sports Hall of Fame member Ron Laconi — was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Hounds in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft Friday night.

Laconi was the first pick of the second round — and the first player selected at his position.

“This is something he really wants to do,” Laconi said of his son. “We knew he’d get drafted. We just didn’t know it’d be this high.”

Pat Laconi is entering his fourth season as a starter at Loyola. He started as a sophomore in 2012 when the Greyhounds won the Division I national championship.

Last year, the team suffered a double-overtime loss to Duke in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Duke wound up winning the national title.

“That was a devastating loss because they figured Duke might be their toughest opponent in the tournament,” Ron Laconi said.

Loyola is ranked No. 11 in this year’s preseason poll.

Laconi tallied five goals, nine assists and 14 points last season, picking up 58 groundballs and creating 41 turnovers.

“Pat is not a flashy player,” his father said. “He’s one of those guys who does everything well. He plays good defense on the ball, transitions well and gets the ball out of the defensive end.

“He understands the game so well and doesn’t make mistakes. That’s what makes him such an attractive player.”

Laconi is a team captain this year and is one of three Greyhounds named to the Face-Off Yearbook Pre-season All-America team.

Laconi helped Loyola set a Division I record last year by clearing the ball effectively 95.5 percent of the time. He made the ECAC All-Academic team last season as well.

Loyola opens its season Feb. 6 at the University of Virginia. The MLL season runs from May through August.

“The college season overlaps the pro season by a month or so,” Laconi said. “Most players who are drafted go from their college season right into the pro season that summer. I imagine Pat will be doing that.”