Phillylacrosse.com,Posted 4/29/14
The BIG EAST Conference announced its men’s lacrosse major award winners and all-conference teams today prior to the start of the BIG EAST Championship.
Villanova’s John LoCascio (Fairfield, N.J.) repeated as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season and was joined on the first team by fellow classmate and defenseman Christopher Conroy (Chatham, N.J.). It marks the second-straight year both LoCascio and Conroy have earned First Team All-BIG EAST Honors while LoCascio also repeated as a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection.
Senior defenseman Chris Piccirilli (Davidsonville, Md.), sophomore midfielder Jack Curran (Fair Haven, N.J.) and freshman goalkeeper Dan Willis (Moorestown) were named to the 2014 All-BIG EAST Second Team. It marks the first postseason conference honors for all three.
For the season, LoCascio is second on the team with 68 ground balls and leads the Wildcats with 32 caused turnovers. He’s also contributed four goals and 13 assists for 17 points. Additionally, LoCascio is a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and is a Tewaaraton Trophy nominee.
All-Big East Team and Major Awards in Men’s Lacrosse
First Team
Wes Berg, Denver, Jr., A ^
Tyler Melnyk, Marquette, R-Sr., A
Kieran McArdle, St. John’s, Sr., A ^
Erik Adamson, Denver, Jr., M
Jeremy Noble, Denver, Sr., M ^
Peter Conley, Georgetown, Fr., M
Christian Burgdorf, Denver, Fr., D
B.J. Grill, Marquette, R-So., D ^
Chris Conroy, Villanova, Sr., D
John LoCascio, Villanova, Sr., LSM ^
Tyler Knarr (La Salle), Georgetown, Gr., FOS ^
Jamie Faus, Denver, Sr., GK (at-large selection)
Ryan LaPlante, Denver, Jr., GK
Second Team
Jack Bobzien, Denver, So., A
Scott Bieda, Rutgers, So., A
Kevin Cernuto, St. John’s, Sr., A
Kyle Whitlow, Marquette, R-So., M
Anthony Terranova, Rutgers, R-Sr., M
Ryan Fitzgerald, St. John’s, Sr., M
Jack Curran, Villanova, So., M
Nick Contino, Rutgers, Sr., D
Mark DiFrangia (La Salle), St. John’s, Jr., D
Chris Piccirilli, Villanova, Sr., D
Liam Byrnes, Marquette, R-So., LSM
Joe Nardella, Rutgers, Jr., FOS
Dan Willis, Villanova (Moorestown), Fr., GK
Key
& unanimous selection for Midfielder of the Year
^ unanimous first-team selection
% second team included four midfielders because of a tie in the voting
Attack Player of the Year – Kieran McArdle, St. John’s, Sr.
Midfielder of the Year – Jeremy Noble, Denver, Sr. (&)
Defensive Player of the Year – John LoCascio, Villanova, Sr., LSM
Goalkeeper of the Year – Ryan LaPlante, Denver, Jr.
Coach of the Year – Joe Amplo, Marquette
