STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Stony Brook men's lacrosse captain Harrison Matsuoka is headed home after college to compete in the National Lacrosse League.

The Calgary Roughnecks, Matsuoka's hometown team, traded to select the Stony Brook midfielder in the first round (14th overall) in the NLL draft on Thursday night.

A Calgary native, Matsuoka grew up rooting for the Roughnecks.

One of his favorite players, Tyson Bell, was traded to the Halifax Thunderbirds moments before Matsuoka's selection in order for Calgary to gain the first-round pick it used to select the Stony Brook standout.

"It's a dream come true," Matsuoka said. "I've been going to Roughnecks games since I was a little kid — 8 years old — taking my shirt off and spinning it in the air every time the Roughnecks scored a goal. It's pretty surreal to go home.

"They showed a little interest in me, but I was definitely pretty surprised to hear my name picked by them in the first round. It's definitely humbling. I feel honored, especially that they would go and trade a guy like Tyson Bell to draft me. Tyson Bell is a guy in the league I looked up to the last few years. To make a move like that is a very good feeling."

A small group of Matsuoka's housemates/teammates joined him at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium for the NLL's draft show, which was streamed on Bleacher Report Live. They erupted in cheers when his name was called.

Matsuoka then was interviewed during the live draft show.
 
A 6-foot, 180-pound midfielder, Matsuoka captained the Seawolves for a third straight season in 2020 while earning America East Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition. Because the season was cut short due to coronavirus, Matsuoka gained an extra year of eligibility and plans to remain for the spring college season before turning pro.

He was a second-team All-America East selection as a junior.

For his four-year collegiate career, Matsuoka has tallied six goals, seven assists, 74 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers in 48 games.

Matsuoka's selection continued Stony Brook's historically strong showing in the NLL draft.

The Seawolves boasted the second overall pick in the 2019 NLL draft, with the Rochester Knighthawks selecting America East Defensive Player of the Year Ryland Rees.

Three years earlier, fellow Stony Brook product Challen Rogers also was selected second overall, by the Toronto Rock.

In 2011, Kevin Crowley was drafted first overall, by the Philadelphia Wings.

And in 2008, Rhys Duch went third overall to the San Jose Stealth.

"I'm a young guy with a lot of speed in transition and just solid on defense," Matsuoka said.