Simoneau Named Third Team All-American; USILA Honors Six From Empire 8
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) released its
2014 All-American teams and six Empire 8 student-athletes were recognized. Nazareth junior face-off specialis
Drew Simoneau highlighted the teams with a third-team selection.
Simoneau, who has already set Nazareth career records for ground balls and face-offs won, was named Empire 8 Player of the Year for the second year in a row. He has been a dominating face-off specialist for the Golden Flyers like no player before him. He won 68 percent (277-for-408) of the draws taken in 2014 and had 230 ground balls. He is the national Division III leader in ground balls per game at 12.72. With one season of eligibility remaining, Simoneau already has shattered Golden Flyer career records for ground balls (577) and face-offs won (753).
St. John Fisher long-stick midfielder
David Haseley was named honorable mention after scoring a career-high five goals and eight points this season. The McQuaid graduate ranked second on the team in both ground balls (38) and caused turnovers (17) giving him 54 in his four-year career, which ranks in the top five in Fisher history.
Fisher senior Mike Blood also earned an honorable mentino spot as one of the best on-ball defenders. Blood was often tasked with guarding some of the Empire 8's top attackmen and didn't disappoint, causing 11 turnovers this season. His 25 ground balls this season ranked him among the best in the Conference.
Ithaca's
Jake Long, a midfielder, recorded honorable mention all-America recognition for the second consecutive season. He tallied 43 points netting 29 goals and dishing out 14 assists in 2014. In 20 games played, he added 16 ground balls and three caused turnovers. Long scored the game-winner against Lycoming on March 5.
Ithaca attackman,
Pat Slawta was selected honorable mention. He paced the Bombers with 72 points on a team-best 47 goals and 25 assists. His assist output ranked second on the team. With a 75.0 shots-on-goal percentage and three game-winners, Slawta collected 43 ground balls and forced five turnovers in 20 starts for the Bombers. He concluded his career ranking on two single-season top-10 lists. Slawta sits seventh with 47 goals and eighth with 72 points scored in 2014.
Ithaca defenseman
Eli Gobrecht anchored the Bomber defense. He had a team-best 35 caused turnovers in 20 starts and scooped up 52 ground balls.