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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Nine members of the University of Hartford men's lacrosse team were recognized with postseason awards on Tuesday afternoon, as announced by the America East Conference.
Sophomore Carter Bender and junior Tim Fallon earned spots on the America East All-Conference First Team. Their selections marked the first time since 2003 that a Hartford player has earned first team honors.
Five Hawks landed spots on the America East All-Conference Second Team. Aidan Genik, Jared Franze, Conor Flynn, Michael Cudmore and Scott Bement earned second-team honors. The five second-team selections are the most in a single season in the program's history.
Franze is accompanied by classmate Rory Nunamacher on the America East All-Rookie Team, which is chosen regardless of position. Ryan Compitello and Genik, a pair of sophomores, wrapped up the Hartford honors, earning two of 10 spots on the America East All-Academic Team. The Hawks have been represented on the all-academic team in each of the last five years.
Bender and Fallon both earned all-conference honors for the second-straight season. Bender, an all-rookie team selection in 2009, earned a spot on the first-team midfield unit. This season, he finished second on the team in scoring with 34 points on 19 goals and 14 assists. The sophomore currently holds the second longest scoring streak in the America East and the 11th best rally in the NCAA. The midfielder has notched at least one point in every game of his collegiate career and has recorded 63 points on 37 goals and 26 assists during the span.
Fallon, a second-team pick last season, landed his spot on the first-team as the face-off specialist. The junior started and played in every game and leads the NCAA statistics in ground balls (9.40 per game) and face-off percentage (62.2-percent). Fallon engraved his name in the Hartford career record book this season, sliding into the seventh spot with 238 career ground balls.
Bement, Flynn and Genik are repeat all-conference honorees. Bement, the 2009 America East Rookie of the Year, is a second team pick for the second consecutive season. The sophomore manned the cage in each of Hartford's victories this season. Bement recorded a save percentage of .466 and recorded 139 saves with a goals-against average of 11.54.
Flynn, who landed second-team honors in 2009 as a defender, made 10 starts this season. The junior ranked fifth on the squad in ground balls (27) and finished second with 14 caused turnovers. Genik led the Hawks' attack for the second season, recording 36 goals and nine assists for 45 points. The sophomore has compiled 79 points over his two-year career to lead all active Hawks. Additionally, Genik is on pace to become the second fastest Hartford player to reach the 100-Point milestone.
Cudmore earned all-conference honors for the first time in his career, filling the shortstick midfield slot on the ballot. The junior produced career-best numbers this season with eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points.
Franze and Nunamacher made an instant impact in 2010 as members of the Hartford midfielder. The duo was ranked in Inside Lacrosse's NCAA Freshman Rankings released on March 9. Franze checked-in at #13 while Nunamacher landed the 17th spot on the list. Franze – a two-time America East Rookie of the Week selection – led the Hawks with five man-up goals and has netted 19 goals including a pair of game-winners. Nunamacher has netted nine goals and tacked on three assists for 12 points. He was tabbed the conference's rookie of the week on March 1.
The America East All-Academic Team is selected based on student-athletes' academic and athletic accomplishments. Academic achievement for consideration requires student-athletes to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 entering the season. Genik holds a 3.45 GPA with a major of health sciences while Compitello, a management major, owns the second-best GPA on the all-academic team, checking in at 3.87. The sophomore logged time in all 14 games as a midfielder, ranking third with 31 points while leading the team with 21 assists.
Hartford finished 4-10 on the season and concluded America East conference play with a mark of 1-4. The Hawks posted the most wins since the 2003 campaign when they finished 9-8 overall. In addition, Hartford lost six games by two goals or less, including four by a single goal. The team, which graduates only a pair of seniors, will return all but one starter next season.
