BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's lacrosse program saw seven of its student-athletes claim Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) postseason honors earlier today, as announced by the league office. Hayden Souza (West Hartford, Conn.) highlighted the group by earning CCC Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as his second straight Short-Stick Specialist of the Year and All-CCC First Team selections.
Joining Souza on the All-CCC First Team were Nick Arcadipane (Groveland, Mass.) and Grant Garrity (Duxbury, Mass.). Meanwhile, Jack Sutherland (Sudbury, Mass.) and Patrick Dean (Westhampton, N.Y.) were chosen to the All-CCC Second Team and Andrew Fithian (Marshfield, Mass.) and Derek Yannone (Lynnfield, Mass.) were tabbed to the All-CCC Third Team.
ALL-CCC FIRST TEAM
For the second straight season, Souza dominated as a short-stick specialist for the Gulls. The junior defender/midfielder has posted 44 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers to date alongside one man-down goal in 16 games played. Souza has been pivotal to Endicott's defense as well as its transition game (clears and rides) as the Gulls currently rank in the upper portion of the conference in both goals against average and clears.
Souza is the fifth student-athlete in program history to claim CCC Defensive Player of the Year accolades joining Cameron Bell (twice), Sam Ozycz, Eric Hagarty (twice), and Patrick Gaffney on the list. As a program, Endicott has won the most Defensive Player of the Year honors in program history (seven total).
Meanwhile, Garrity has recorded 33 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers for the Gulls in 16 games played. Garrity ranks eighth overall in the conference in caused turnovers and 38th in ground balls as a defender. This is Garrity's second career All-Conference selection (one First Team, one Second Team).
Arcadipane rounds out the list of All-CCC First Team honorees thanks in large part to his 23 goals and five assists (28 points) this season (15 games played). Arcadipane, a first-time All-Conference honoree, ranks 27th overall in the conference in goals, 28th in points, and 10th in man-up goals (4).
ALL-CCC SECOND TEAM
Sutherland picked up his first career All-Conference honor as a freshman behind 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points. Sutherland currently ranks No. 22 in the conference in points, No. 29 in goals, and No. 16 in assists. He's also third in man-up goals this season with six total.
Dean has been a fixture in the cage all season for the Gulls (16 games played/14 games started) as the junior has compiled 172 saves, a 9.46 goals against average (GAA), and a .534 save percentage in 951:30 played. Among all conference goalkeepers, Dean ranks second in games played and minutes, sixth in GAA, fourth in saves, eighth in save percentage, and seventh in wins (6).
ALL-CCC THIRD TEAM
Fithian found his way onto the All-Conference list as a freshman by compiling 12 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers (No. 24 in the conference). Fithian's slide defense and stellar physical play in front of the cage and also in transition were major factors into his selection.
Yannone concludes the list of All-Conference honorees for the Gulls. In 16 games played, Yannone has recorded 119 ground balls, 190 faceoff wins, and a 60.3 faceoff percentage for Endicott. Yannone currently ranks third in the conference in ground balls, second in faceoff wins and third in faceoff percentage (minimum 200 attempts).
WHAT'S NEXT
Second-seeded Endicott (6-10, 6-2 CCC) will play the winner of No. 6 Roger Williams and No. 3 Curry on Tuesday, May 1 at home at a time to be determined later.
For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - David Le '10)