Lacrosse Leader Todd Rassas Retires

[Sonny]

08/22/06 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Chicago Machine

After a very successful lacrosse career, lacrosse standout Todd Rassas has decided to retire from the sport. Rassas achieved All-American honors for lacrosse while at Notre Dame and played for Team USA in both 2002 and 2006. In 2002, Rassas was Team USA captain for the gold medal team. This past summer, Todd Rassas competed with the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse.

Todd Rassas grew up in Northfield, Illinois where he first learned to play lacrosse while attending Loyola Academy. What began as a sport to keep him in shape for football, later became the sport he played at the professional level. Rassas was a 2-time All-State selection while at Loyola Academy and a 3-time All-American player at Notre Dame. Todd is a third-generation Notre Dame student-athlete and joins his father with All-American recognition while at Notre Dame.

"While coaching Todd at Notre Dame, I found out what an amazing ability he had to have a mature idea for what he wanted and to pursue it wholeheartedly," said Notre Dame Head Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan. "Todd wanted to be an All-American football player at Notre Dame, and after initially getting rejected by the school, Todd attended Holy Cross College before transferring into Notre Dame where he became an All-American in lacrosse. Todd is a great competitor and he assumed leadership positions, not because he was loud on the field, but because the team knew they could count on him."

Last fall, Todd was drafted by the Chicago Machine - one of the four new expansion teams of Major League Lacrosse in 2006 - and returned to Chicago to compete at the professional level.

"We were lucky to acquire Todd in the expansion draft," said Machine Head Coach Kevin Finneran. "As a veteran of the MLL and Team USA, we knew he would bring leadership, tenacity and skill to our defense. Being a Chicago native, we also knew it would be exciting for him and our fans to see the best player ever from Chicagoland coming home. Todd's command of our defensive end will be missed. When he made a call, our guys responded. With his travel schedule at work and family commitments, he could no longer see himself playing for the Machine at the level he is accustomed."

"This is the right time for me to retire," said former Machine defenseman Todd Rassas. "I feel as though I've accomplished everything I wanted to do when it comes to lacrosse and right now I want to spend more time with my family and job."

Although Rassas is retiring and will not be playing with Major League Lacrosse, Rassas still hopes to stay involved in the sport.

"I'm definitely going to miss playing the game and the comradery among my former teammates, but I hope to get involved in the future whether it be coaching or playing for a club team."