BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott junior Hayden Souza (West Hartford, Conn.) has earned New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-New England Third Team honors, as announced by the organization.

Souza, who was chosen to the NEILA All-Region Third Team as a short-stick specialist, has collected several postseason honors this year and is sure to add more in the following weeks.

Highlighting his cache of awards this season are his selections as both the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player of the Year and Short-Stick Specialist of the Year, which were awarded in April. Souza also was named to the CCC All-Conference First Team during the same time frame.

Additionally, Souza is the only student-athlete from the CCC represented on any NEILA All-Region Team (first, second, or third) this season. Souza also 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 out of any institution (seven total) in the CCC.

Souza played in all 18 games on the schedule for the Gulls in 2018 and compiled one goal, an assist, 50 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Souza ranked No. 17 in the conference in ground balls and No. 27 in caused turnovers. His impact defensively – and in transition play (rides and clears) – aided the Gulls to the best goals against average (GAA) in conference play at 7.09, and the fewest goals allowed (57) among all teams in league action.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Endicott finished with a 7-11 record and advanced to the CCC Championship game before falling to Western New England, 10-6. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)