Messina Named ECC Rookie Of The Year; Five Pioneers Named All-Conference
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (May 8, 2008) – Freshman midfielder
Mike Messina (Sayville, N.Y.) was selected as the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the conference's coaches.
Messina headlines four Pioneers that were named to the all conference teams. Messina recorded nine points on four goals and five assists
Junior attacker
Greg Cerar (Farmingdale, N.Y.) was named to the First Team while junior defender
Bryan Leonard (Yorktown, N.Y.), junior attacker
Dave Loftus (Merrick, N.Y.) and junior attacker
Matt Dimler (Long Valley, N.J.) were named to the Second Team.
Cerar led the Pioneers offensively with 44 goals and 24 assists, eclipsing last year's 27 goals and 12 assists.
Leonard helped keep the opposing offense to a .255 shooting percentage while causing nine turnovers and scooping up 16 ground balls.
Loftus proved to be a powerful option in the game and was second in scoring with 33 goals with nine assists while picking up 24 ground balls.
Dimler was fourth in scoring with 17 goals and 10 assists for the Pioneers.
C.W. Post (11-3) finished its season at home with a 19-4 routing over conference opponent Dominican College on May 3.
2008 East Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse All Conference Teams
First Team Yr. Pos. School
Eddie Ege Jr. Attack Adelphi
Keith Henderson Jr. Attack NYIT
Kevin Hennessy Jr. Midfield NYIT
Nick Cotter Sr. Midfield Dowling
Keith Galante Jr. Midfield Molloy
Michael Thon Jr. Midfield Mercyhurst
Joe Biondolillo So. LSM Dowling
Jesse Corben Sr. Specialist Adelphi
Christian Scuderi So. Defense NYIT
Matt Spahr Jr. Defense Mercyhurst
Brett Neal Sr. Defense NYIT
Jason LaShomb Jr. Goalkeeper Mercyhurst
Second Team Yr. Pos. School
Ryan Campbell Sr. Attack Dowling .
Kyle O'Brien So. Attack Dowling
David Loftus Jr. Attack C.W. Post
Matthew Dimler Sr. Midfield C.W. Post
Matt Messina Jr. Midfield NYIT
Chris Eline So. LSM Mercyhurst
Jared Garcia Sr. Specialist NYIT
Kyle Rubisch So. Defense Dowling
Ryan Kelly Jr. Defense Adelphi
Nick Tracey Sr. Goalkeeper Dowling
Rob Humann Sr. Goalkeeper Molloy
Player of the Year: Eddie Ege, Adelphi
Rookie of the Year: Michael Messina, C.W. Post
Coach of the Year: Gordon Purdie, Adelphi