University of Massachusets Athletics
Six Minutemen Named To All-New England Lacrosse Team
May 11, 2009 | Men's Lacrosse
May 11, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Six UMass men's lacrosse stars have been named to the Turfer/NEILA All-New England Lacrosse Team as announced on Monday. Senior Jim Connolly and juniors Bobby Hayes and Diogo Godoi each made the first team while seniors Tim Balise, Evan Blum, and Doc Schneider made the second squad. This marks the fourth time in as many years that Schneider has been honored which goes along with his New England Rookie of the Year distinction in 2006. It marks the second awards for Balise and Connolly and first for Blum, Godoi, and Hayes. The Minutemen concluded their season on Sunday with a 10-7 NCAA First Round loss to Princeton.
Schneider had his most outstanding statistical season as a senior, posting a 7.43 GAA and .653 save percentage (good for eighth in program history). He finished his career second in UMass history with 753 career saves, trailing program leader (and NCAA record-holder) Sal Locasio, who holds the top NCAA mark with 931. Schneider's 205 saves in 2009 stand as eighth most in a single season, 15 behind his 220 saves in 2006 (fourth all-time) as part of the National Finalist Team.
Connolly impressed on the offensive end with a career-high 39 goals to up his final career total to 90, 15th best in UMass program history. He rounded out his career on Sunday with a four-goal effort, his 13th career hat trick and second in the NCAA Tournament. He finished his career with 13 NCAA Tournament goals in only five postseason contests. His point total increased every year from 26 as a freshman to 37 then 44 as a senior.
Alongside Connolly at attack was Balise, who impressed in his final two seasons in Amherst. After scoring 17 goals in his first two years, he broke though with 33 last season and 31 in this, his senior campaign. In his junior season, the native of Wilbraham, Mass. was named to the ECAC All-Conference Second Team and ESPN The Magazine All-American. His fifth goal of the game at Rutgers in this year's season-finale on May 2 sent the Minutemen to the ECAC Title and the program's first NCAA Tournament Berth since 2006.
This marks the first honors for Blum, Godoi, and Hayes who each posted their best seasons in 2009. Blum posted a career-high 14 goals and 22 points, shattering his previous highs of seven goals and 10 points. His best game came in a crucial ECAC matchup at Fairfield (Apr. 21) when he netted his first-career hat trick in the team's 12-6 win.
Godoi, a 2008 All-Conference Performer, anchored a UMass defense that finished the season top 10 nationally in fewest goals allowed. He shut down the opponent's top scorer on numerous occasions, including in the NCAA Tournament contest at Princeton when he held the Tigers' top scorer Jack McBride pointless.
Hayes continued to impress as a two-way midfielder, posting a career-high in goals (12), assists (14), and points (26). His assist total was by far and away the tops on the team while the point total was third best. His big games this season came at Fairfield (2g, 2a) and #12 Loyola (2g, 1a). He even stepped in to take six faceoffs this season, winning five of them.
