Alksninis and Bambini Named as ECAC Division III North Football All-Stars

Alksninis and Bambini Named as ECAC Division III North Football All-Stars
CAPE COD, Mass. - Curry College senior punter Matt Alksninis (Mansfield, Mass.) and sophomore wide receiver Robert Bambini (Westwood, Mass.) have been named as 2010 ECAC Division III North Football All-Stars. Alksninis punted 59 times for the Colonels during the 2010 season. His 42.2 yards per punt average was good for first in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) and eighth nationally. Bambini led Curry in receptions (62), receiving yards (1,064) and scoring (102 points). He ranked 17th nationally in both receiving yards per game (106.4) and points per game (10.2).

Maine Maritime Academy senior fullback Jim Bower was chosen as the 2010 ECAC Division III North Offensive Football Player of the Year. Bower, Division III's rushing leader, directed the Mariners to an 8-3 mark this year. The senior fullback had a record-breaking season, ending the year with Maine Maritime's single-single rushing record of 1,916 yards while scoring 20 touchdowns. His 6,060 career rushing yards total is good for sixth place all-time in Division III history.

The 2010 ECAC Division III North Defensive Football Player of the Year went to Endicott junior defensive end Kevin Eagan. A native of West Hartford, Connecticut, Eagan led the Gulls to the NEFC title and the program’s first ever NCAA tournament berth. In 12 games, he recorded 94 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. Eagan was named to the 2010 New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star team as well as being a 2009 ECAC Northeast All-Star.

Austin Dwyer, a freshman running back from Alfred, was chosen as the 2010 ECAC Division III North Rookie of the Year. A first team All-Empire Eight member, Dwyer helped the Saxons to the league title and a run to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament where they lost to Mount Union. The freshman running back ran for a school-record 1,412 yards on the ground and tallied eight touchdowns. Dwyer also contributed on special teams as he totaled 403 return yards to go along with his one touchdown; overall he totaled 2,056 all-purpose yards in thirteen games.

NCAA quarterfinalist Alfred University placed five players on the ECAC North team, leading all schools in the region.

The ECAC will honor the players and rookies of the year in each division and region on February 17 at the annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet presented by FieldTurf, an event held in the Touchdown Club at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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