SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Student-athletes from seven different institutions in the Commonwealth Coast Conference were represented on the 2012 All-CCC Men’s Lacrosse Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. In addition to the all-conference team, winners of five major individual awards and the team sportsmanship award were also selected.
Curry College placed four student-athletes on the all-conference squad: Junior attack Joe Natale earned All-CCC First Team honors, while senior midfielder Russell Lanham, junior short-stick specialist Andrew Navoni and freshman midfielder John Castellano each earned All-CCC Honorable Mention honors.
Western New England senior Patrick White was named CCC Offensive Player of the Year, Western New England junior Aaron Harris was picked as CCC Defensive Player of the Year, Roger Williams freshman Luke Aubrey was chosen CCC Rookie of the Year, Western New England’s Brewster Knowlton was honored as CCC Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, Western New England’s John Klepacki was honored as CCC Coach of the Year, and Western New England was the recipient of the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Joining White (attack), Harris (defense) and Knowlton (goalkeeper) on the first team were attackers Jon Nessa (Roger Williams) and Joseph Natale (Curry), midfielders Brendan Eppley (Endicott, Wes Chittick (Gordon) and Jon Thanas (Endicott), defenders Breck Merritt (Endicott) and Collin Schmitt (Roger Williams), long-stick midfielder Ian Knechtle (Gordon), short-stick specialist Corey Johnson (Western New England) and faceoff midfielder Joe Martin (Western New England).
Accompanying Aubrey (goalkeeper) as second-team selections were attackers Adam Quinn (Gordon), Drew Beck (Roger Williams) and Corrigan Harreys (Western New England), midfielders James Reardon (Western New England), Sean Lawton (Western New England) and Dan O’Gorman (University of New England, defenders Jack Liacos (Western New England), Greg Szkop (Endicott) and Brian Leistikow (Western New England), long-stick midfielders Trevor Scott (Western New England) and Mitri Najjar (Roger Williams), short-stick specialist Michael Armstrong (Endicott) and faceoff midfielder Sam Ozycz (Endicott).
Receiving honorable mention were attackers Tyler Thomas (University of New England), Cameron Signorelli (Roger Williams), Macaulay Gillis (Nichols), Adam Knapton (Western New England), Dylan Thomas (University of New England) and Mio Sison (Gordon), midfielders Dan Perednia (Gordon), Russell Lanham (Curry), Mike Bane (Nichols), Todd Carson (Roger Williams), Connor Prescott (Endicott), John Castellano (Curry) and Mike Pennacchio (University of New England), defenders Jeff Ryan (Gordon), Patrick Holland (Roger Williams), Anthony Martignetti (Endicott), Nick McMahon (University of New England) and Mark Fesenmeyer (Roger Williams), long-stick midfielder Kyle Burke (Endicott), short-stick specialists Andrew Navoni (Curry) and Matt Anderson (University of New England), faceoff midfielder Alan Williams (Roger Williams) and goalkeeper Scott Gray (Nichols).
White, a senior from Milton, Mass., had a standout year at attack for the Golden Bears. He led the league offensively in goals per game drilling in an average of 2.5 per contest. White was also second in the league in total goals netting 35, and he also dished out eight assists for a total of 43 points, which tied him third in points per game (3.07) among league leaders. White came up in the clutch several times throughout the season for the Golden Bears, as he tied for first in game-winning goals, scoring three of his four within conference play. He helped lead a strong scoring offense that was ranked 37th in the nation among NCAA Division III lacrosse programs. White also stands out among NCAA DIII men’s lacrosse players as he ranks 43rd in goals scored per game.
Harris, a senior defender from Eliot, Maine, closed out his career in style, as he led his team in caused turnovers (20) and snagged 34 ground balls on the season, which ranked in the top three on the squad. He helped lead a defensive corps that ranked 21st nationally among all NCAA DIII men’s lacrosse programs, with a scoring defense that only allowed an average of 6.69 goals per game, and also ranked 90th in ground balls picked up per game (33.08). The Golden Bears enter the league tournament as the top seed, sporting a perfect 7-0 CCC record and a 10-4 overall mark, with all four losses coming against opponents that are currently ranked in the top 15 in the USILA poll.
Aubrey, a freshman goalkeeper from Norwalk, Conn, had an outstanding start to his collegiate career. He was the only league goalkeeper to rank top-five in all major goalkeeping statistics, as he posted a .597 save percentage (1st), 7.59 goals against average (2nd) and made an average 10.36 saves per game (5th). Aubrey compiled a 9-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in CCC play, with his only loss of the season coming Western New England, 6-5. The Hawks enter the CCC tournament as the second seed under the direction of first-year coach, Marty Kelly.
Knowlton, a goalkeeper from Somers, Conn., showcased his ability to balance academics and athletics. In the classroom, he distinguished himself with a 3.88 grade point average in mathematics and is schedule to graduate this May. Between the pipes, Knowlton posted an 8.12 goals against average, faced 265 shots and collected 84 saves over nine contests. He also earned CCC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and CCC Rookie of the Year in 2009.
In his 11th season as head coach at Western New England, Klepacki is recognized as CCC Coach of the year for the second time, as he directed the Golden Bears to the program’s second consecutive perfect season in CCC play with a 7-0 record. 2012 marks the fourth year in a row that the Golden Bears enter the league tournament as the top seed. Entering into the 2012 season, the Golden Bears were tabbed to finish second to defending CCC champion Endicott; however, WNE came out on top and defeated the Gulls in the regular season matchup, 7-3. At the conclusion of last season, Klepacki boasted a career record of 139-50, an impressive winning percentage of 73.5, which ranks fifth among active NCAA DIII men’s lacrosse coaches.
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