NEILA ALL-NEW ENGLAND PRESEASON TEAMS
BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott men's lacrosse seniors Cameron Bell (Falmouth, Maine) and Fabian Brunner (Niskayuna, N.Y.) and juniors Colin Bannon (Westport, Conn.) and Tommy Hughes (Coram, N.Y.) have all been named to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Division III All-New England Preseason Team. Bannon, Bell, and Hughes were all named to the second team, while Brunner was tabbed as an honorable mention selection.
Bannon led the Blue and Green offensively with 80 points in his sophomore season courtesy of 41 goals and 39 assists. Bannon also ranked third overall in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in points, first in assists, and seventh in goals en route to claiming All-CCC first team honors last spring. Additionally, Bannon scored three or more goals in nine games, which included a stretch of 14 goals scored across a four-game span from March 4-13 (3.5 per game).
Bell, who was recently selected by the Boston Cannons in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft, produced a 16-4 record, a 9.56 goals against average (GAA) and a .560 save percentage in goal last season for the Gulls. Bell also stopped a career-high 209 shots in the cage to aid Endicott to its eighth CCC title and ninth appearance into the NCAA Tournament in program history.
Bell will enter his senior season this year with 43 career wins, which sits five shy of tying former three-time USILA All-American and current Endicott head coach Eric Hagarty '10 for the program's all-time record.
Hughes paced the conference in face-off wins (292) and ground balls (145) last season to earn All-CCC first team accolades as a face-off specialist for the Gulls. Nationally among all other face-off specialists in 2015, Hughes ranked No. 28 in ground balls per game (7.25) and No. 76 in face-off winning percentage (0.565).
Brunner, who also claimed All-CCC first team honors last season, tallied 25 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers in 20 games played (19 starts) last spring. Brunner was a key piece to a Gulls' defense that ranked first in GAA in conference-only games in 2015.
Endicott posted a 16-4 overall record and went undefeated in conference play (8-0) in 2015 en route to claiming its eighth CCC title in program history with a 13-12 win over Western New England. The Gulls advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time before falling to No. 10 Cortland State by a 13-6 score.
Endicott will enter the 2016 season ranked No. 17 in the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine preseason rankings, No. 19 in the USILA/Nike DIII coaches poll, and No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse preseason poll. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.