Men’s Lacrosse Places Five on Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America Teams
Preseason All-America List
BALTIMORE, Md. – The Empire 8 men's lacrosse teams gained national press from respected media outlet Inside Lacrosse, as the organization has unveiled segments of its 2018 Face-Off Yearbook online. The E8 placed five student-athletes on the media outlet's Preseason All-American release.
Stevens Institute of Technology has a trio of honorees named the Honorable Mention team, while Alfred University and Hartwick College each have one honorable mention selection.
Alfred University senior attack
Jake Lynch was selected to the Honorable Mention section of the list. He is joined by Hartwick College's
Eric Schweitzer as a long-stick midfielder and Stevens Institute of Technology's
Max Bailey and
Tommy Dawson as attacks and
John Boutureira as a midfielder.
Lynch played and started in all 14 games last season as he led the team in goals (45), assists (23) points (68), man-up goals (eight), shots (112) and shots on goal (72). Out of the 14 games, there was only one game where he didn't find net and only one game where he didn't record an assist. Lynch upped his point total in every single game with a season-high nine goals and two assists against SUNY Canton.
Schweitzer finished last season ranked first in the Empire 8 Conference in caused turnovers per game (3.27) and second in ground balls per game (8.45). Nationally, Schweitzer's statistical numbers put him in the top five in Division III men's lacrosse in caused turnovers per game and in the top 20 in ground balls per game.
Dawson received First Team All-Conference honors after erupting for 47 goals and 16 assists in his senior season. He finished sixth in the conference with 2.47 goals per game his eight-point performance against Elmira College matched Bailey's total against Arcadia for the third-highest single-game total in the conference. Dawson recorded four game-winning goals and seven with the man-advantage. Dawson also picked up 25 grounds balls and caused six turnovers. It's the third consecutive season the conference recognized Dawson after naming the Virginia Beach, Virginia native to its second team in 2016 and gave Dawson an honorable mention in 2015.
"He's our team leader, offensive leader, and a big-game player," head coach
Gene Pelusosaid. "He does everything the coaches ask and he always puts the team first. He is an excellent person and teammate and was our team MVP."
Boutureira earned his first All-Conference honor after totaling 33 goals with four assists in 19 games. The junior midfielder scored a career-high eight goals against Alfred on March 25 and picked up six goals against Utica on April 19. The eight-goal game at Alfred was the second-highest single-game total in the conference and the second-highest in program history. "Boots" netted a pair of game-winning goals and 60% of his shots were on goal.
"He is a matchup nightmare," Peluso shared. "He is a big, strong and fast midfielder who can take over a game. He came up big for us in-conference and is our guy at midfield to get the team going. He's a true two-way midfielder."
Schoonen earned his second consecutive First Team All-Empire 8 nod after picking up 33 ground balls and causing 23 turnovers. Over his four-year career, the Miller Place, New York native appeared in 57 games and collected 131 ground balls.
"He has one of the best motors I have ever coached," Peluso said. "He's at full speed 100% of the time. He did a lot for our team. He defends well, has great range and focus, and is a very talented defender."
The 2016 Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year, Bailey earned his second consecutive second team honor after leading the league in assists and his 2.68 assists per game tied for 10th nationally. His 51 assists set a program single-season record. Bailey also recorded 17 goals and scored one up goal.