Central Islip, N.Y. – The
conference’s coaches have selected Mercyhurst senior long
stick middie Greg Bensman as both the 2012 East Coast Conference
Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. NYIT’s
Billy McGee was named the Goalkeeper of the Year, while teammate
Luke Miller grabbed the Rookie of the Year honor.
After winning the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse
Association’s Long Pole Midfielder of the Year award in 2011,
Bensman has been just as dominant in the 2012 season. Bensman was a
key component for a defense that has allowed only 5.15 goals per
game to rank second in all of Division II. In 13 games he forced 26
turnovers and scooped up 35 ground balls. His 22 caused turnovers
during conference action ranked fourth in the ECC and helped the
Lakers to an undefeated season and ECC crown. Bensman also chipped
in on the offensive side, scoring two goals and dishing off one
assist on the season.
McGee put together an incredible senior season between the pipes
for the Bears. In posting a 12-3 record on the season, McGee
compiled 155 saves and a 6.10 goals against average, to rank in the
top four in the conference in both categories. A three-time winner
of the ECC Goalkeeper of the Week award, McGee also led the ECC and
all of Division II with a .643 save percentage.
Despite missing the last four games of the season due to injury,
Miller still ranked among the top point scorers in the ECC. In 12
games, the five-time recipient of the ECC Rookie of the Week racked
up 44 points to rank eighth in the conference. Miller dished off 27
assists to come in third in the conference and also scored 17
goals, including an overtime game winner against Wheeling Jesuit in
one of the more memorable games in the ECC this season.
After posting an unblemished 13-0 record on the season and an ECC
Championship, Mercyhurst’s Chris Ryan was voted the Coach of
the Year by his peers. Ryan will attempt to lead the Lakers to
their second straight Division II National Championship in the
upcoming NCAA Tournament.
2012 ECC Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Team
First Team
A: Matt Delmonico, Seton Hill
A: Vito DeMola, Dowling
A: Brian Scheetz, Mercyhurst
M: James Delaney, Seton Hill
M: Keith Rodriguez, C.W. Post
M: Jason Smith, NYIT
D: Matt Lauria, Dowling
D: Danny McDermott, NYIT
D: Andrew Wagner, Mercyhurst
LSM: Gren Bensman, Mercyhurst
SPCL: Lou Riley, Dowling
GK: Billy McGee, NYIT
Second Team
A: Kyle Kallay, Mercyhurst
A: Mike Marzocca, Mercy
A: Mike Melnychenko, Chestnut Hill
M: Dan Abbene, Dowling
M: Brendan Hayes, Dowling
M: Zac Reid, Mercyhurst
D: Matt Maccario, Wheeling Jesuit
D: Patrick Maloney, Mercyhurst
D: Mike Munch, Mercy
LSM: Justin Annunziato, NYIT
SPCL: James Chayka, Mercyhurst
GK: TJ DiCarlo, Mercy
GK: Ryan Dougherty, Dowling
Honorable Mention
A: Bobby Calhoun, NYIT
A: Luke Miller, NYIT
A: Billy Richardson, Dowling
M: Jimmy Davis, Molloy
M: Mike Duddy, Chestnut Hill
M: Brandon Gamblin, NYIT
D: Derek Muzio, Dowling
D: Peter Plaskey, Mercyhurst
D: Anthony Rusch, Seton Hill
LSM: Austin Grimes, Wheeling Jesuit
SPCL: Matt Fitz, NYIT
SPCL: Wade Ungar, C.W. Post
GK: Mike Grace, Mercyhurst
Player of the Year: Greg Bensman,Sr., LSM,
Mercyhurst
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Bensman,Sr.,
LSM, Mercyhurst
Goalkeeper of the Year: Billy McGee,Sr., NYIT
Rookie of the Year: Luke Miller,Fr., A, NYIT
Coach of the Year: Chris Ryan, Mercyhurst
