University of Massachusets Athletics
Leveille Named New England Player of Year
May 14, 2003 | Men's Lacrosse
May 14, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior midfield Kevin Leveille (Delmar, N.Y.) was named 2003 New England Player of the Year after leading the Minutemen to a 13-2 record and a berth in this weekend's NCAA quarterfinals. He was joined on the first team by Chris Fiore (Freeport, N.Y.), Jeff Zywicki (Napean, Ontario) and Tom Fallon (Shaker Heights, Ohio).
Leveille ranks second on the squad with 51 points (34 g, 17 a), and is one of only 11 UMass players to record over 40 points in three straight seasons. He tallied 10 points in the second game of the season against Stony Brook, which is the country's highest single-game total this season. His 159 career points rank as the 11th-best total in school history and his 105 career goals are eighth all-time. He is also a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the nation's top player.
Fiore, who was named ECAC Player of the Year, earns first team honors after scoring 44 points (34 g, 10 a). He has 113 career points, and his 82 goals are just five shy of the UMass top 15 in career goals. He has tallied 90 points in the last two seasons. Zywicki ranks third in the country in total points with 62 points (41 g, 21 a). His 62 points are the most since Mark Millon scored 81 in 1993, as are his 41 goals, since Millon tallied 58 in the same season. He is the ninth player in school history to score 40 goals and 20 assists in the same season. The 41 single-season goals are 13th on the single-season list, just four out of the top ten. Fallon has battled the injury bug this season, but has proven to be a dominating force on the defensive end for the Minutemen. On the season, Fallon has picked up eight ground balls.
Three others, sophomore goalie Bill Schell (Mahopac, N.Y.), freshman defenseman Jack Reid (Glastonbury, Conn.) and sophomore defenseman Matt Garcia (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.), earned second team recognition, while junior attack Kevin Glenz (Merrick, N.Y.) was selected as honorable mention.
The No. 5 Minutemen will battle No. 3 Maryland in the NCAA quarterfinals at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., at 12:30 p.m. For ticket information, please call the Syracuse University ticket office at 315-443-2121 or online at www.dometix.com.
