Six Men's Lacrosse Players Named On All-America Teams

MADISON, N.J. - Six Landmark Conference men's lacrosse performers were recognized with honors as part of the 2012 USILA Division III All-Americans. One choice was selected for the third team while five others were voted Honorable Mention.

Goucher College senior Matt Lynch was selected as a third-team honoree in the midfield, giving the Landmark one of 48 players chosen for All-America status. Lynch's teammates Rory Averett and Kyle Boncaro both were Honorable Mention selections to the team. Joining them in that distinction were Tim Cleary of The University of Scranton, Chris Fuccillo from The Catholic University of America, and Sean McGowan of Drew University.

Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College), a midfielder who had been an honorable mention on the USILA's Division III All-America teams the past two seasons, was a third-team selection this year. He's the first player in the history of Goucher's men's lacrosse program ever to land on a team in the All-America voting. The only other three-time All-America selection from Goucher is goalkeeper Reeves Craig, an honorable mention in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

It's also the first time Goucher has ever produced three All-Americans in the same season as attackmen Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) made their All-America debuts as honorable mentions. The three players combined to score 461 goals and hand out 268 assists during their four seasons at Goucher. Each one recorded the 200th point of his career during the 2012 season, during which the Gophers went 18-2, were champions of the Landmark Conference and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III postseason tournament.

A first-team all-Landmark Conference selection in each of the last two seasons, Cleary is honored for his play at long pole midfield. "The coaching staff and I are incredibly proud of Tim and his accomplishments," said second-year head coach Jim Rogalski. "He continues to represent his family, his university, the program and its alums in a first-class manner." This past season, Cleary led the Royals in caused turnovers (22), was second in ground balls (54), and was a key component on a defensive unit that held 10 of 16 opponents to 10-or-fewer goals. In 2011, Cleary was a mainstay on a defensive unit as the Royals won the Landmark Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Division III championships for the first time in school history. Overall, Cleary has appeared in 46 games in his career and has 51 caused turnovers and 108 ground balls. He enters his senior year in 2013 14th on the Royals' all-time list for ground balls.

Fuccillo earns his first career postseason All-American honor after putting the finishing touches on a terrific career for the Cardinals. After receiving preseason All-American accolades prior to the season, Fuccillo went out and earned his fourth consecutive All-League honor, and his third straight on the First Team. A native of Patchogue, New York, Fuccillo found the back of the net 41 times in 2012, raising his career total to 146, which ties him with Conor Kelly for the most in school annals. Fuccillo's 41 goals and 48 points led the Cardinals this season. He scored multiple goals in 11 games, including a high of six at Drew on April 5. Three of Fuccillo's goals were game-winners, as he helped lead CUA to its third consecutive Landmark Conference Tournament appearance. Fuccillo also scooped up 34 ground balls, including five vs. Hood and Frostburg State, and he caused 17 turnovers on the year. Fuccillo becomes the third men's lacrosse player at CUA to earn All-America honors, joining Tim Lambert (2000) and Jerry Clifford (2006).

McGowan becomes the first Drew All-American since Michael DeGiovanni in 2007. The senior finished the regular season ranked number one in all of Division III in face-off percentage and ended the year ranked sixth in the country in groundballs. Earlier this month McGowan was honored as the Landmark Conference Player of the Year. It was a banner year for McGowan and the Rangers who set a new school record with 13 wins and tied the program mark with eight-straight wins over the course of the season. McGowan passed former teammate Jon Dowiak C'09 for first all-time on the school's all-time groundball list, scooping up 421 over his four-year career. In 2012 he set new school marks for ground balls in a season with 164 and averaged 7.02 ground balls per game for his career, also a program best. McGowan was more than a face-off specialist for the Rangers, as he proved to be one the squad's top offensive threats. He led the Rangers with 16 assists and was second on the team with 28 goals.

The six players to earn recognition from the USILA is the most the conference has enjoyed in its five years of existence.

Story provided by Catholic, Drew, Goucher, & Scranton Sports Information