Posted: May 01, 2012
FREDONIA – The State University of New York Athletic Conference has announced the Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year awards for the 2012 men’s lacrosse season. The awards are voted on by the conference coaches.
For the first time the SUNYAC had co-Player’s of the Year. Oneonta State junior face-off specialist Jimmy van de Veerdonk (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) and Cortland senior attack Greg Wright (Irondequoit, NY/West Irondequoit) shared the honor.
For the first time the SUNYAC had co-Player’s of the Year. Oneonta State junior face-off specialist Jimmy van de Veerdonk (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) and Cortland senior attack Greg Wright (Irondequoit, NY/West Irondequoit) shared the honor.
Van de Veerdonk has started 13 of the team’s 14 games, posting a team-high 35 goals, 110 groundballs and a face-off percentage of .650. His 2.50 goals per game lead the conference while his 7.86 ground balls per game rank 18th in Division III. He has been ranked nationally all season in the top-20 in face-off percentage. A first team All-SUNYAC selection, van de Veerdonk led Oneonta to a 3-3 conference record as the fourth-seed in the tournament.
Wright started all 16 games, posting 28 goals and 30 assists for a team and conference high 58 points. The attackman scored 27 of his points against conference opponents (14 goals and 13 assists). A first team All-SUNYAC selection, Wright led the Red Dragons to a perfect 16-0 overall record and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. He ranks 60th in points per game (3.63) in Division III.
Geneseo freshman attack Steven Cregan (Rochester, NY/Brighton) was named the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year after posting nine goals and 19 assists against conference teams as the Knights finished with a 5-1 league record. Cregan has started all 12 regular season games, leading the team with 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists). His 44 points and 32 assists lead the conference while his assists per game (3.67) rank third in Division III. The Knights will serve as the second-seed in the SUNYAC Tournament which starts Wednesday May 2 when they host third-seeded Plattsburgh. Cregan, a first-team All-SUNYAC selection, is the fourth Geneseo player to earn Rookie of the Year honors since the award was started in 2002 and the first since Craig Lange was honored in 2008.
SUNY Cortland head coach Steve Beville has been named Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, gaining his previous awards in 2008 and 2010. In his sixth season at the helm, he has guided his team to a current 16-0 overall record and 6-0 in conference play, completing the first-ever undefeated regular season in Cortland history. His team currently ranks sixth in Division III in goals-against average (5.44). The Red Dragons will serve as the No. 1 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament for the third straight year and will host fourth-seeded Oneonta on Wednesday, May 2.
2012 All-Conference Teams
