2016 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Awards and All-Conference Teams
2016 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Eli Gobrecht, Sr., Ithaca College, Defender, Ithaca, NY
Eli Gobrecht is the fourth Bomber in program-history to earn the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year award after guiding nationally-ranked No. 1 Ithaca to its fourth conference championship in program-history. Gobrecht, a captain and an All-American, leads the Empire 8 in caused turnovers per game (3.1) and is second on the team in groundballs (86) for a Bomber defense that allows 6.11 goals per game, fifth-best in Division III. Gobrecht is ninth in DIII in caused turnovers per game and he is now a three-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection. Over the course of four seasons he has totaled 252 ground balls and 154 caused turnovers.
Goalie of the Year: Scott Sidnam, Sr., Ithaca College, Camillus, NY
Scott Sidnam earned his third career Empire 8 Goalie of the Year honor after guiding the Bombers to a No. 1 national ranking and a program-best 18-1 overall record which included their second Empire 8 Conference Championship in his four year career. Sidnam also earned his second career Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player honor after stopping a total of 20 shots over the course of two games in the conference tournament. Sidnam has started in all 19 games for the Bombers this season and holds a 6.35 goals against average to go along with a .624 save percentage and 161 saves.
Rookie of the Year: Max Bailey, Fr., Stevens, Attack, Millersville, MD
Max Bailey is just the second player in program-history to earn Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year honors after helping guide the Ducks to the conference tournament finals in 2016. The all-conference second team selection finished his freshman campaign ranked second on the team with 62 points (33 goals, 29 assists). In conference play he led all freshmen with an average of 5.00 points per contest (19 goals, 16 assists). He was also an E8 all-tournament team selection after averaging 3.5 points per game in the playoffs.
Coach of the Year: Jeff Long, Ithaca College
Ithaca’s Jeff Long has been named Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career; gaining his previous awards in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2014. Long guided the nationally-ranked No. 1 Bombers to their second conference title in the last three years and the fourth overall in program-history. Ithaca is currently riding a school record 16 game win streak. In his 29
th season at the helm, Long has guided his team to an 18-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 record in Empire 8 play. 18 wins in a single season is a new school-record for the Bombers. Ithaca earned the conference’s automatic NCAA bid and will be making its 13th national appearance in program-history and ninth under the guidance of Jeff Long.
2016 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams