College honors: Widener’s Casey (Abington), Cabrini’s Grugan (Ridley) and Penn State’s Ellis (Radnor) earn awards

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/2/09

    Widener freshman Johnny Casey (Abington) has been named the Middle Atlantic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week.
    Casey finished last week with seven goals and nine points over two games for Widener, which split a pair of MAC contests. He netted five goals Wednesday in the Pride’s 12-10 loss to Messiah and had two in the squad’s 17-0 rout of Alvernia.
    He has helped Widener (3-5, 2-1 MAC) win three of its last four outings.   

Cabrini’s Grugan (Ridley) is Inside Lacrosse Player of Week

    Cabrini junior attackman Casey Grugan (Ridley) has been named the Inside Lacrosse Division III National Player of the Week. Grugan powered Cabrini to two victories in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play with a team-high 15 points.

    Grugan tallied eight points on five goals and three assists in the Cavaliers’ 18-3 win at home against Gwynedd-Mercy College March 25. He paired two goals with five assists in Cabrini’s 21-8 triumph at Centenary College March 28.

    Grugan owns the nation’s second-longest consecutive points streak, notching at least one point in 47 straight games. He is just eight points shy of becoming the third Cavalier men’s lacrosse player all-time to reach the 200-point plateau in his career, joining Athletic Hall of Fame honoree Tom Lemieux (99-02) and current teammate Scott Reimer.

    Grugan is the second Cavalier to earn the honor in the last two seasons. Midfielder Rich Romanelli received the national distinction March 4, 2008 after scoring three goals, including the game winner, in a 10-9 upset win at then-No. 4 Roanoke College.

Penn State’s Ellis (Radnor) is ALC Defensive Player of the Week

    Penn State junior goalie Stephanie Ellis (Radnor) has been named the American Lacrosse Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

    Ellis recorded 12 saves, headlining the Penn State defense in its 14-12 victory over William & Mary. One of the top goalkeepers in the ALC, she owns a nationally-ranked 8.94 goals against average and has been in net for all five of the Nittany Lions’ wins in 2009.