Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/25/15
From Press Release
Former Lehigh men’s lacrosse standouts David DiMaria ’13 and Dan Taylor ’15 have been named to the Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team, as announced by the league on Monday. In total, six schools are represented, led by seven honorees from Army West Point and Navy. Each school that participates in men’s lacrosse selected 25 players in the voting for the 25th Anniversary Team, and could not vote for its own student-athletes.
DiMaria played a key role in the rise of the Lehigh men’s lacrosse program. As a freshman, he tallied 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) before reaching 52 points as a sophomore (22 goals, 30 assists). DiMaria followed with 47 points as a junior (24 goals, 23 assists), earning second team All-Patriot League recognition and All-Tournament Team honors as Lehigh won its first Patriot League Tournament in program history to qualify for its first NCAA Tournament. He wrapped up his career with 73 points (33 goals, 40 assists) as a senior in 2013, leading Lehigh to its second straight league title and NCAA Tournament appearance
As a senior, DiMaria was named a Tewaaraton Award candidate (for the nation’s top player) and earned Patriot League Tournament MVP. Selected in the sixth round of the Major League Lacrosse Draft, his 73 points still stand among the top ten in school and Patriot League history. DiMaria finished his career with 205 points (88 goals, 117 assists), which is third in Lehigh history and sixth in league history.
Taylor recently concluded a stellar four-year career this past spring by earning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year laurels. An honorable mention All-American and first team All-League honoree his final two seasons, Taylor won Lehigh Athletics’ Graduating Male Athlete Award this past May. Like DiMaria, Taylor was one of 25 players nationally named a Tewaaraton Award candidate. Taylor finished his senior season with 77 points (41 goals, 36 assists), 20 points more than anyone else in the Patriot League.
Along with his 77-point senior season, the Calgary, Alberta native posted 17 points as a freshman (11 goals, six assists), 50 as a sophomore (29 goals, 21 assists) and 76 as a junior (47 goals, 29 assists), finishing with 220 points in his collegiate career (fourth in league history and trailing former Tewaaraton winner Peter Baum by just five points). His 77 points stand fourth in league history for a single season and 76 points stand sixth. Both figures are in the top five in school history.
As a senior, Taylor tallied three or more points in his last seven games and 13-of-16 games. He tallied 10 points (five goals, five assists) at Furman in February which earned him Patriot League and USILA National Offensive Player of the Week honors. Taylor earned the league honor again in April and was named National Player of the Week from Lacrosse Magazine after six points against #14 Princeton, including the game-winning goal with 16 seconds remaining, and seven points at #18 Stony Brook. In addition, Taylor was named a Senior CLASS Award candidate and was selected 38th overall by the Denver Outlaws in the MLL Collegiate Draft. Taylor finished his career with four Patriot League Tournament appearances and two league championships.
The Patriot League will celebrate its 25th Anniversary throughout the season with coverage on its website and social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the new Patriot League Instragram account. Website coverage will feature stories on former student-athletes who excelled in the Patriot League and in their professional careers as well as pieces that chronicle 25 topics covering the history of the Patriot League and its member schools. Fans can follow and participate in social media coverage throughout the season by using #PL25.
Army West Point: Jeremy Boltus (2008-11); John Walker (2003-06); Tim Pearson (1999-02); Bill Henderson (2007-11); Adam Fullerton (2005-08); John Glesener (2012-15); Garrett Thul (2010-13)
Bucknell: Chris Cara (2002-05); Justin Zackey (1991-94); Justin Sussman (2000-03)
Colgate: Peter Baum (2010-13); Brandon Corp (2006-09); Derek Laub (1991-93); Chris Eck (2005-08)
Lehigh: Dan Taylor (2012-15); David DiMaria (2010-13)
Loyola: Joe Fletcher (2014); Justin Ward (2014)
Navy: Matt Russell (2004-06); Billy Looney (2004-07); Ian Dingman (2004, 2006-07); Mitch Hendler (2004-05); Jordan DiNola (2005-08); Jon Birsner (2004-06): Steve Looney (2004-06)
Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse 25th Anniversary Team
Peter Baum, Colgate (2010-13) – Baum won the highest honor in collegiate men’s lacrosse when he captured the Tewaaraton Award as the top player in the nation as a junior in 2012. He was also named the USILA National Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year that season while taking the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and first-team USILA All-America status as well. Baum also led the Raiders to an NCAA Tournament berth where they posted a first-round victory over Massachusetts. He set the Patriot League single-season records for goals (67) and points (97) in 2012. Baum is the League’s all-time leader in goals (164) and third in points (225). He was a four-time first-team All-Patriot League selection.
Jon Birsner, Navy (2004-06) – Birsner finished his career in fine fashion by capturing the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honor and being named a second-team USILA All-American as a senior in 2006. He was named to the first-team All-League squad that season after a second-team honor in 2005. Birsner helped Navy win the Patriot League title and advance to the NCAA Tournament each year from 2004-06, with the Mids making the NCAA Championship in 2004 and winning a first-round game in 2005.
Jeremy Boltus, Army West Point (2008-11) – Boltus had an outstanding career that was capped by a Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award and first-team USILA All-America honor as a senior in 2011. He also earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in each of his last two seasons, and in 2010 led Army West Point to the Patriot League title and a first-round upset of Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament. Boltus is fifth in Patriot League history in points (214) and third in assists (124), and led the League in both categories in 2010 and 2011.
Chris Cara, Bucknell (2002-05) – Cara earned the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award in both 2004 and 2005, and was an All-Patriot League honoree in each of his four seasons with first-team status in the final three. He also capped his career as a third-team USILA All-American in 2005 after starting it as the League’s Rookie of the Year in 2002. Cara led the nation in scoring in 2004 with 78 points (38 G, 40 A) and is the Patriot League’s all-time leader with 249 points (111 G, 138 A) in his career. He helped Bucknell to a share of the Patriot League title in both 2002 and 2003.
Brandon Corp, Colgate (2006-09) – Corp earned the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award in each of his final three seasons from 2007-09, and was a USILA All-American in the last two of those years with a third-team honor in 2008 and first-team in 2009. He made the All-Patriot League Team in each of his four seasons, including first-team status in the final three years. Corp is in the top 10 in League history for goals (127) and points (194). He helped Colgate win the Patriot League title and advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, winning the League Tournament MVP award in the process.
David DiMaria, Lehigh (2010-13) – DiMaria earned second-team All-Patriot League honors in each of his final two seasons, and also helped Lehigh win the Patriot League title in both 2012 and 2013 with a League Tournament MVP honor in the latter season. He led the Patriot League in scoring as a senior with 73 points, and stands seventh in League history with 205 points in his career.
Jordan DiNola, Navy (2005-08) – DiNola earned first-team All-Patriot League status in each of his final three seasons, and capped his career as the League’s Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team USILA All-American as a senior in 2008. Navy ranked in the top three nationally in defense in each of his four seasons, with spots at No. 1 in both 2005 and 2006. Navy won the Patriot League title in DiNola’s first three seasons from 2005-07 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four years, with first-round wins in both 2005 and 2008.
Ian Dingman, Navy (2004, 2006-07) – Dingman earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in each of his three seasons, and was a second-team USILA All-American in 2004 while helping Navy make it to the national title game. Dingman helped Navy win the League title and advance to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons. He was the team’s leading scorer twice and second two other times, and is one of three players in program history with at least 100 goals and 50 assists.
Chris Eck, Colgate (2005-08) – Eck finished his career as a first-team All-League selection in 2008 after earning second-team honors in each of the two previous years. He led the Patriot League in face-off wins in each of his four seasons and in face-off percentage in his final three years. Eck finished his career with 664 face-off wins and a .605 percentage, and also stands third in League history with 305 ground balls. He helped Colgate win the Patriot League title and earn an NCAA Tournament berth as a senior in 2008.
Joe Fletcher, Loyola (2014) – Fletcher’s lone season within the Patriot League was a memorable one as he helped Loyola win the League title while earning the Defensive Player of the Year award and a first-team All-League honor in 2014. Fletcher was also recognized nationally as the USILA Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American, and became only the second defender to finish as a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award in the 14 seasons the honor has been given out. Fletcher was also the only collegiate member of the 2014 United States National Team. His honors extended off the field as Fletcher won the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, was named an Academic All-American and later was a recipient of the NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award. Prior to joining the Patriot League, Fletcher played a key role on Loyola’s 2012 national championship squad.
Adam Fullerton, Army West Point (2005-08) – Fullerton won the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year award consecutively in 2007 and 2008. He earned first-team All-League honors in each of those seasons, and added a third-team USILA All-America nod in 2008. Fullerton stands fourth in League history with 620 career saves, which ranks first all-time at Army West Point.
John Glesener, Army West Point (2012-15) – Glesener had a standout career that included the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award as a sophomore in 2013 and third-team USILA All-America status in both 2014 and 2015. He also earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in each of those three seasons. Glesener stands eighth in League history with 204 career points, and also eighth with 124 goals.
Bill Henderson, Army West Point (2007-11) – Henderson won the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award consecutively in 2010 and 2011, and earned first-team All-Patriot League status in each of his final three seasons. He also received a third-team All-America selection as a senior. Henderson helped Army West Point win the 2010 Patriot League title and upset Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament that season.
Mitch Hendler, Navy (2004-05) – Hendler earned USILA All-America status in each of his two seasons in the Patriot League, capturing third-team honors in 2004 and first-team recognition in 2005. He made the first-team All-Patriot League squad in each of those seasons while helping Navy rank No. 2 nationally in defense in 2004 and No. 1 in 2005. He helped Navy to the Patriot League title in each of his two seasons with the Mids advancing to the NCAA Championship in 2004 and winning a first-round contest in 2005.
Derek Laub, Colgate (1991-93) – Laub was a top player in the first three seasons of the Patriot League. He earned the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honor as a senior in 1993 and was a first-team All-League selection in each of his final two years. Laub recorded 188 points despite playing only the three seasons within the Patriot League. He was also named to the Patriot League All-Decade Team.
Billy Looney, Navy (2004-07) – Looney earned USILA All-America status in each of his final three seasons with a third-team honor in 2005, second-team in 2006 and first-team in 2007. He also earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in each of those three years. Looney helped Navy win the Patriot League title in each of his four seasons, with the Mids advancing all the way to the NCAA Championship in 2004 and winning an NCAA first-round game in 2005.
Steve Looney, Navy (2004-06) – Looney earned second-team All-League honors each season from 2004-06, and added a third-team USILA All-America honor in 2005. He was a two-way midfielder who helped Navy place No. 2 nationally in defense in 2004 and No. 1 in both 2005 and 2006. The Mids won the Patriot League title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each season from 2004-06, making it to the national title game in 2004 and winning a first-round contest in 2005.
Tim Pearson, Army West Point (1999-02) – Pearson is one of the most decorated players in Patriot League history. He won the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honor three times, sharing the award as a freshman in 1999 before earning it again as a junior in 2001 and senior in 2002. He also earned first-team All-League status in each of his four seasons, and helped Army West Point win a share of two League titles in his tenure. Pearson is the only player to lead the Patriot League in points in each of his four seasons, and is second in League history with 238 points in his career while standing first with 142 assists. He was also a member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team.
Matt Russell, Navy (2004-06) – Russell earned significant accolades in the net during a dominant era for the Mids. He was named a USILA All-American in each of his final three seasons for the Mids, with first-team honors in 2004, second-team in 2005 and third-team in 2006, and earned the Ens. C. Markland Kelly Award as the nation’s top goalkeeper in 2004. Russell was also named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year in the first two seasons of the award in 2005 and 2006 and earned first-team All-League status in each of his three seasons within the conference. Russell anchored a Navy defense that ranked No. 2 nationally in 2004 and No. 1 in both 2005 and 2006. He helped Navy to the Patriot League title in each of his first three seasons as well as an appearance in the NCAA Championship game in 2004 and a first-round victory in 2005.
Justin Sussman, Bucknell (2000-03) – Sussman won the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award in both 2002 and 2003, and earned first-team All-Patriot League status each of those seasons after a second-team honor in 2001. He also helped Bucknell to great team success in his career as the Bison won the outright Patriot League title in 2001 and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament while sharing the League title in Sussman’s other three seasons. The standout goalkeeper ranks second in school history with a 7.81 goals against average, and his .664 save percentage in 2003 ranked second nationally. Sussman was also named the 2003 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Dan Taylor, Lehigh (2012-15) – Taylor concluded his career with the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award in 2015 and was named to the first-team All-Patriot League squad in each of his final two seasons. He led the Patriot League in scoring as a junior (76 points) and senior (77 points) and finished fourth in League history with 220 career points. Taylor helped Lehigh win the Patriot League title and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament in both 2012 and 2013.
Garrett Thul, Army West Point (2010-13) – Thul earned All-Patriot League honors in each of his four seasons, with a first-team selection in his final three years. He was a third-team USILA All-American as a junior in 2012. He is the only player to lead the Patriot League in goals in three different seasons, and stands second in League history and first at Army West Point with 163 in his career. He scored 41 goals as a rookie in 2010 to help Army West Point to the Patriot League title as well as an upset of Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament.
John Walker, Army West Point (2003-06) – Walker earned All-Patriot League status in each of his four seasons for Army West Point, with a first-team honor as a junior in 2005. He also earned first-team USILA All-America status that season, becoming the school’s first recipient of that designation in 21 years. Walker stands sixth in Patriot League history in points (209) and seventh in goals (125). He helped Army West Point to the Patriot League title in 2003, and an NCAA berth that season and again in 2005.
Justin Ward, Loyola (2014) – Ward captured the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award in his only season in the League in 2014, also helping Loyola win the League title and make the NCAA Tournament in its inaugural campaign. Ward also earned second-team USILA All-America honors as he set the Patriot League and school single-season record with 53 assists. Ward is Loyola’s career record holder for assists, and helped the Greyhounds win the NCAA title as a sophomore in 2012.
Justin Zackey, Bucknell (1991-94) – Zackey earned first-team All-Patriot League status in his final two seasons in 1993 and 1994, and also received the League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and was named an Academic All-American in each of those seasons. He remains Bucknell’s all-time leader for goals both in a season (63) and career (138), and ranks third in school history with 196 points.