ECAC Announces 2016 DIII South Men's Lacrosse All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III South Men's Lacrosse All-ECAC Selections and major award winners.
After securing its 11th national title in program history, Salisbury University took home two of the four major awards, as Thomas Cirillo earned the distinction for top offensive player and Jim Berkman was voted the ECAC Coach of the Year. Stevenson University's Lito Flanagan garnered the award for top defensive player, with the ECAC Rookie of the Year Award going to freshman PJ Rafferty of Delaware Valley University.
Offensive Player of the Year
Thomas Cirillo - Salisbury University, Sr., Midfield
A 2015 All-ECAC First Team honoree, Cirillo compiled 46 goals and 25 assists for 71 points during the regular season, helping Salisbury to a perfect 17-0 mark during the regular season. The senior recorded multiple points in every game except for one during the regular season, helping him claim the 2016 Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year honor. Cirillo's exploits earned him national recognition as well; the midfielder received the Fran McCall Award, given annually to the most outstanding midfielder at the DIII level, and was selected as a USILA/Nike DIII First Team All-American.
Defensive Player of the Year
Lito Flanagan - Stevenson University, So., Long-Stick Midfield
Flanagan played in all 17 games for the Mustangs during the regular season, and picked up a team-best 62 groundballs while also recording 25 caused turnovers. The sophomore registered multiple caused turnovers in seven games, including the final four of the regular season, and also had three goals and four assists on the season. In addition to receiving MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year and ECAC honors, Flanagan earned an honorable mention in the USILA/Nike DIII All-America voting.
Rookie of the Year
PJ Rafferty - Delaware Valley University, Fr., Attack
Rafferty's award for ECAC Rookie of the Year follows a breakout freshman campaign. The attackman ended the regular season atop the team leaderboard in goals (33), assists (25) and points (58), all of which set new single-season program records. A two-time ECAC DIII South Rookie of the Week, Rafferty is the first Aggie to earn a major ECAC award.
Coach of the Year
Jim Berkman - Salisbury University
Berkman's 28th season in charge of the Sea Gulls could not have gone any better for the all-time winningest coach in NCAA men's lacrosse history. Under Berkman, Salisbury posted an unblemished 17-0 mark in the regular season, with the only loss of the campaign coming in the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. With Berkman at the helm, the Gulls would rebound from that loss by rattling off five-straight wins to capture their 11th national title in program history.
All-ECAC First Team
A: Cam Cetrone - Albright College, Jr.
A: Nathan Blondino - Salisbury University, Jr.
A: Stephen Banick - Stevenson University, Sr.
M: Thomas Cirillo - Salisbury University, Sr.
M: Evan Downey - Cabrini College, Sr.
M: Tate Rolland - Frostburg State University, Sr.
D: Kyle Tucker - Salisbury University, So.
D: Danny Smith - Delaware Valley University, So.
D: Marc Bushong - Gwynedd Mercy University, Jr.
LSM: Andrew Ternahan - Salisbury University, Jr.
FOS: Eric Geiser - Frostburg State University, Sr.
G: Tom Kraemer - Frostburg State University, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team
A: Matt LoParo - Cabrini College, Fr.
A: Carson Kalama - Salisbury University, Jr.
A: Spenser Love - Frostburg State University, Sr.
M: James Burton - Salisbury University, Sr.
M: Tony McCraw - Gwynedd Mercy University, Sr.
M: Kyle Heinig - Washington & Jefferson College, Jr.
D: Matt Ward - Cabrini College, Sr.
D: Brian Kittredge - Cabrini College, Sr.
D: Will Nowesnick - Salisbury University, So.
LSM: Lito Flanagan - Stevenson University, So.
FOS: Chris Schneekloth - Cabrini College, Sr.
G: Matt Horton - Widener University, Fr.
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In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female Players. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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