Blondino, DeFazio, Diplomat Duo Highlight DIII South Men's Lacrosse All-ECAC Awards, Selections
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2017 Division III South Men’s Lacrosse Awards and All-ECAC selections.
Nathan Blondino of Salisbury University was voted the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, with Stevenson University junior Dominic DeFazio winning Defensive Player of the Year. Franklin & Marshall College took the two remaining major awards, as Kevin Mollihan and Todd Caballaro earned Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.
Blondino provided the spark to the Salisbury attack in 2017 as the Sea Gulls won the Capital Athletic Conference Championship. The senior appeared in 18 games during the regular season and CAC tournament, piling up an astounding 105 points on 46 goals and 59 assists. For Blondino, this marks his second ECAC honor after he was an All-ECAC First Team selection in 2016. This also marks the second year in a row in which a Salisbury player has won the Offensive Player of the Year after Thomas Cirillo won the award last year.
DeFazio anchored a Stevenson defense that allowed fewer than six goals-against per game on average in 2017. The junior caused a team-high 42 turnovers and scooped up 62 ground balls in 18 games during the regular season and MAC Commonwealth tournament, as the Mustangs claimed the conference title for a fifth-straight year.
Mollihan’s nod for Rookie of the Year caps an award-filled freshman season for the attackman. The 2017 Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year appeared in 17 games during the regular season and conference tournament, scoring 62 goals and assisting on 18 more for a total of 80 points in that span. Mollihan received recognition for his exploits throughout the season, earning national player of the week distinction once and conference offensive player of the week honors on three occasions.
Cavallaro and his Diplomats team reached new heights in 2017. In his 10th year at the helm, Cavallaro’s Franklin & Marshall squad went 15-2 during the regular season and conference tournament, and captured the school’s first-ever Centennial championship. Under his guidance, seven Diplomats were named to All-Centennial teams, including four first-team selections.
Offensive Player of the Year
Nathan Blondino – Salisbury University, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year
Dominic DeFazio – Stevenson University, Jr.
Rookie of the Year
Kevin Mollihan – Franklin & Marshall College, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Todd Cavallaro – Franklin & Marshall College
All-ECAC First Team
Cam Cetrone – Albright College, Sr.
Nathan Blondino – Salisbury University, Sr.
Chase Fraser – Neumann University, Sr.
Evan Downey – Cabrini University, Sr.
Timmy Brooks – Cabrini University, So.
Kyle D’Onofrio – Stevenson University, Sr.
Marc Bushong – Gwynedd Mercy University, Sr.
Will Nowesnick – Salisbury University, Jr.
Dominic DeFazio – Stevenson University, Jr.
Bobby Cressman – Cabrini University, Fr.
Dan Decker – FDU-Florham, Sr.
Riley Michaels – Cabrini University, Jr.
Matt Nestler – Cabrini University, Fr.
All-ECAC Second Team*
Kyle Heinig – Washington & Jefferson College, Sr.
Ryan Wieczorek – Farmingdale State College, Fr.
Kevin Mollihan – Franklin & Marshall College, Fr.
Nick Treon – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Jr.
Jordan Krug – Cabrini University, So.
Jake Klein – Cabrini University, Fr.
Andrew Murray – Manhattanville College, Sr.
Tommy Gallo – Stockton University, So.
Ryan Shorts – Westminster College, So.
Justin Napolitano – Farmingdale State College, Fr.
Tommy DeLuca – Cabrini University, Fr.
Michael Grus – Saint Vincent College, Jr.
Max Pukenas – Stockton University, Fr.
Steve Halko – Cabrini University, Sr.
Jimmy Schicke – Moravian College, Fr.
Justin Burnette – Stevenson University, Fr.
Justin Ruiz – Stockton University, So.
Teddy Sweeney – Drew University, Sr.
*Additional Players Added Due to Ties in Voting
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