University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Lacrosse Holds 2009 Team Banquet
September 28, 2009 | Men's Lacrosse
Sept. 28, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass men's lacrosse team held its annual year-end banquet on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Campus Center. Senior defenseman Brennan Mack was honored with the prestigious Goose Garber Award while senior midfielder Joe Reale and senior goalie Doc Schneider shared the Eric Sopracasa "Heart & Soul" Award.
The emotional event saw the team hand out its annual team awards as well as national honors for the 2009 ECAC Champions.
The Most Valuable Offensive Player Award went to Tim Balise, who scored 31 goals and added five assists. He scored the game-winning overtime goal at Rutgers that gave UMass the ECAC title and a berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Schneider was honored as the Most Valuable Defensive Player. Schneider was outstanding all season, posting a dazzling 7.43 GAA and a .653 save percentage. Some of his many standout games came against Rutgers (19 saves), Syracuse (17), Georgetown (18), and #12 Loyola (17). He also made a career-high 21 stops in a thrilling overtime win at Hobart.
The Most Improved Player of the Year went to sophomore defenseman Travis Tripucka, who emerged as a starter on close defense. He played in all 15 games on the season (starting five times), recording 15 groundballs and five caused turnovers. He started last four games of regular-season. Tripucka scooped three groundballs, caused two turnovers in holding Princeton's (5/10) Chris McBride pointless in NCAA First Round.
The Rookie of the Year went to freshman Art Kell, who started all 15 games on attack. He led all rookie scorers with 14 points and topped all freshmen with 11 goals. Also had three assists. Kelll had goals in 10 of last 12 regular-season games and goals in eight games in a row from Feb. 28-April 11.
The Hammer Award went to All-American Diogo Godoi for the second year in a row. He started all 15 games while recording 28 groundballs and 21 caused turnovers, tied for most on team. Godoi headed up defense which is ranked 11th in scoring defense (7.93) and sixth in man-down defense (79.3). In NCAA First Round at Princeton (5/10), Godoi blanked PU's leading scorer Jack McBride, holding pointless for the first time all season with a groundballs and caused turnover.
The Robin Food Award, presented by Dr. Curt Connor from the Chemical/Engineering Department, went to junior Bobby Hayes. He had 26 points (12 goals and 14 assists) through 15 games. He led the team in assists. Hayes tallied points in first eight games. Nine multi-point games. He was seventh in ECAC in assists per game (0.9).
The Eric Sopracasa "Heart & Soul" Award named in honor of the late Minuteman defenseman was shared by senior midfielder Joe Reale and Schneider. Reale was UMass' top face-off man all season and also played defensive midfield. After being held goal-less his first three collegiate seasons, Reale scored three goals in first two games of senior year. He won 109-of-252 face-offs (43.3 percent) and tied for second on team with 43 groundballs.
The final award of the event, the prestigious Goose Garber Award, named in honor of legendary and Hall of Fame Coach Dick Garber was presented to Brennan Mack. In honor of legendary coach Dick Garber, the Goose Garber goes to the unsung hero. The Award signifies the most unselfish player, the ultimate teammate, and the leading contributor to UMass lacrosse. The senior defenseman started all 15 games. He was third on team with 20 caused turnovers and also had 43 groundballs, tied for second on team. He helped lead defense which ranked 11th in scoring defense (7.93) and sixth in man-down defense (79.3).
The other honors handed out are as follows:
Tewaaraton Trophy Final Nominee
Doc Schneider
ESPN The Magazine Academic
All-American/1st Team All-District
Tim Balise
USILA Scholar All-American
Tim Balise
Lowe's Sr. Class Award Nominee
Tim Balise
USILA All-Americans
Doc Schneider (Second Team)
Jim Connolly (Honorable Mention)
Diogo Godoi (Honorable Mention)
USILA North-South Game
Tim Balise
Jim Connolly
Doc Schneider
ECAC League Honors
Jim Connolly (Off. Player of Year)
Doc Schneider (Goalie Of Year)
All-ECAC
Tim Balise (First Team)
Jim Connolly (First Team)
Diogo Godoi (First Team)
Doc Schneider (First Team)
Bobby Hayes (Second Team)
ECAC All-Academic Team
Tim Balise
Bobby Hayes
Brennan Mack
Casey Rahn
Stephen Zorkers
NEILA All-New England Team
Jim Connolly (First Team)
Diogo Godoi (First Team)
Bobby Hayes (First Team)
Tim Balise (Second Team)
Evan Blum (Second Team)
Doc Schneider (Second Team)
NEILA Senior Scholar-Athlete Team
Tim Balise
Jim Connolly
Brennan Mack
Rory Pedrick
Joe Reale
Doc Schneider
Jewish Sports All-Americans
Evan Blum (First Team)
Doc Schneider (First Team)
