Butler resident picks college
BUTLER TWP — Butler resident Moses Moran, a senior at Blue Ridge School in St. George, Va., will continue his lacrosse and academic career at Canisius University in Buffalo, N.Y.
Moran began playing lacrosse in first grade at Butler and played youth lacrosse for the school district through eighth grade.
He attended Kiski Prep his freshman and sophomore years — playing lacrosse there — before moving on to Blue Ridge for his junior and senior year.
Blue Ridge was 22-3 last season, winning the Virgnia Independent Conference. Moran, a defender, was named first team All-VIC.
“It was hard leaving Butler when I did,” Moran admitted. “I had a lot of friends here. I was pretty homesick my first couple of weeks (at Kiski Prep), I have to admit that.
“My older brother, Sebastian, went to Kiski Prep before me, so I did have some familiarity with the situation.”
Moran said the quality of lacrosse at Blue Ridge “is much better and really helped my game.”
He has a younger brother, Liam, who is a sophomore at Blue Ridge and plays an attack position.
“He's very good. He'll eventually get a Division I opportunity, too,” Moran said.
Sebastian Moran was recruited by Ursinus and went to college there, but has not played lacrosse for the school. Their parents, Jonathan and Mindy Moran, still live in Butler.
Moses was also recruited by Mount St. Mary, Hobart, Penn State, Virginia and Cleveland State before deciding on Canisius.
“I just like the team culture there,” he said. “It felt like a second home to me when I visited. Everyone on the team is so positive and pumped up. They are striving to be the best.”
The Golden Griffins finished 8-9 last season — the program's most wins in 10 years — and won the MAAC Tournament, upsetting the top two seeds in overtime in tournament play.
Canisius lost to Robert Morris, 12-6, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The team's last winning season was 10-6 in 2008.
