Empire 8 Quartet Named 2024 Preseason Men's Lacrosse All-Americans

Men's Lacrosse | 2/6/2024 9:36:40 AM

Four Empire 8 student-athletes, Ben Hammond, Connor Mesh and Timmy Salit from St. John Fisher University and Quinn McKercher from Nazareth University earned 2024 Inside Lacrosse Division III Men's Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American honors. Salit also earned United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Third Team Preseason All-American accolades.

Hammond is entering his senior season as a goalkeeper for the Cardinals in 2024. A native of Manlius, NY, Hammond was previously the 2022 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player and garnered All-E8 second team honors in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Hammond won 16 games, while recording a 9.49 goals against average and a .556 save percentage. Overall, Hammond enters 2024 with a 24-13 career record, 340 saves and a .517 save percentage.

Salit, who enters his senior season, led the Cardinals in scoring with 72 points on 31 goals and 41 assists during the 2023 season. He also added 43 ground balls. An attack from Johns Creek, GA, Salit earned All-Empire 8 first team honors and USILA Honorable Mention accolades in 2023. He has 85 career points on 40 goals and 45 assists to go along with 54 ground balls in his collegiate career.

Mesh, a junior defensive midfielder, excelled for the Cardinals in 2023, earning USILA Honorable Mention All-American accolades after collecting 32 ground balls to go along with 13 caused turnovers. A native of Spencerport, NY, Mesh has appeared in 35 career games for the Cardinals, recording 49 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers, while winning 59 percent of his face-offs taken (26-for-44).
 
McKercher, a native of Lake Mary, FL, was named the 2023 Empire 8 Player of the Year and garnered USILA Honorable Mention All-American honors. In 2023, he led all Empire 8 student-athletes with 76 points on 44 goals and 32 assists and excelled in league play with 40 points on 18 goals and 22 assists in seven contests, leading all players with 5.7 points per contest. He enters his senior season with 176 career points on 114 goals and 62 assists in 47 contests. McKercher, was previously named the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and is a two-time All-E8 first team selection.

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube
 
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