Senior midfielder from C.W. Post, Mike Messina, has been named
the 2011 USILA National Player of the Year. Messina also picks up
the Midfield Player of the Year award as well.
Messina, the 2011 East Coast Conference Player of the Year and
First Team All-American, takes home the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award
Division II Outstanding Player of the Year award after leading the
Pioneers to a 16-2 record and a spot in the NCAA Division II
National Semifinals. On the season, Messina scored 29 goals and
added seven assists for 36 points.
The USILA also named two other ECC men’s lacrosse
student-athletes as the best at their position. Greg Bensman of the
National Champion Mercyhurst Lakers was named the Long Pole
Midfielder of the Year and TJ DiCarlo of Mercy College was named
the Outstanding Goalie of the Year.
Bensman helped lead the Lakers to their first ever National
Championship in 2011 by leading the squad with 52 ground balls and
29 caused turnovers.
DiCarlo helped lead Mercy to a national ranking after being
selected eight in the ECC Preseason Poll by accumulating an 11-3
record between the pipes for the Mavericks. DiCarlo, the ECC
Goalkeeper of the Year, finished fourth in the nation in save
percentage and saves per game.
