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Three men’s lacrosse players were named to CollegeLacrosseUSA.com’s preseason All-American team. Junior attackman Conor Gill and junior defenseman Mark Koontz were named to the first-team, while senior midfielder Hanley Holcomb was a second-team selection.
Gill, a first-team All-America last season, is one of the most gifted attackmen in the country. He led the ACC (and placed 11th nationally) in scoring last season with 66 points (26g, 40a), an average of 4.40 ppg. He also led the ACC and finished eighth in the nation in assists with an average of 2.67 apg. In his career, the Lutherville, Md., native has scored 118 points and reached the century mark faster than any UVa player since Kevin Pehlke in the early 1990s.
Koontz was a second-team All-American in 2000, joining Gill and Syracuse’s Josh Coffman (2nd) as the only sophomores named first- or second-team All-Americans. A budding star, he and Gill were the only sophs named All-ACC last spring. A steadying influence on defense, Koontz has outstanding stick skills and led ACC long sticks with 72 ground balls a year ago. He tied his career high with eight ground balls in front of a record crowd at Ohio State in his hometown of Columbus.
Holcomb looks to bounce back from a frustrating season when he scored 10 goals and added two assists. The senior lefty from Ridgewood, N.J., was hampered for much of the season by a bad hamstring, but he had an outstanding fall season and looks to regain the form he displayed in 1999 when the Cavaliers claimed the national title. His experience will help solidify the first midfield unit.
The Cavaliers open the 2001 campaign at home against Towson on Feb. 24.
CollegeLacrosseUSA.com Men's DI All-Americans
First Team
Attack:Liam Banks, SyracuseMike Springer, SyracuseConor Gill, VirginiaKeith Cromwell, Rutgers
Midfield:Josh Coffman, SyracuseConor Denihan, Johns HopkinsChris Malone, MarylandDoug Shanahan, Hofstra
Defense:Damien Davis, PrincetonMark Koontz, VirginiaJohn Glatzel, SyracuseMichael Howley, Maryland
Goal:Pat McGinnis, Maryland
Second Team
Attack:B.J Prager, PrincetonGavin Prout, LoyolaGreg Patchak, DukeJeff Sonke, North Carolina
Midfield:Adam Borcz, NavyChris Cercy, SyracuseRoger Buttles, HarvardHanley Holcomb, VirginiaKyle Sweeney, Georgetown
Defense:Shawn Nadelan, Johns HopkinsRyan McClay, CornellDavid Metz, LoyolaRyan Mollett, Princeton
Goal:Trevor Tierney, Princeton
Third Team
Attack:Mike Henehan, GeorgetownTom Glatzel, Notre DameMatt Striebel, PrincetonMike Mollot, Maryland
Midfield:Chris Hartofilis, DukeScott Bross, DukeRob Frattarola, Johns HopkinsSteve Dusseau, GeorgetownBobby Horsey, Loyola
Defense:Scott Farrell, PrincetonStuart Schwartz, DukeMatt McFarland, MassachusettsChris Sullivan, BrownBrandon Testa, Johns Hopkins
Goal:Robert Mulligan, Syracuse
Players to Watch:David Ulrich, Notre Dame, Tim Pearson, USMA, Adam Doneger, Johns Hopkins, Brendan Shook, Johns Hopkins, Matt Breslin, Duke, Brian Solliday, Syracuse, Bill St. George, Syracuse, Matt Primm, Harvard, Owen Daly, Princeton, Mike Keating, Duke, Justin Cynar, Cornell, Mike Law, Denver, Sean Hartofilis, Princeton, Jason Lavey, Delaware, Mike Stromberg, Loyola, Mike Monfett, Brown, Ryan Metzbower, Delaware, Eric Wedin, Johns Hopkins, John Brasko, Loyola, Bobby Gormsen, North Carolina, Jamie Breslin, Hobart, Greg Bice, Ohio State, A.J. Wright, Notre Dame.