Bowdoin's Fitzgerald Selected as Player of the Year

HADLEY, Mass. - Bowdoin senior attacker Connor Fitzgerald (Hingham, Mass.) has been named the 2006 NESCAC Player of the Year, as determined by the conference coaches. Fitzgerald led the league in assists and points this season, helping his Polar Bears reach the semifinals of the NESCAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship for the first time since 2002.

Fitzgerald also received NESCAC All-Conference First Team recognition for the second-straight season, making it three consecutive years that he has received All-Conference honors after earning Second Team honors in 2004. The senior netted 19 goals and a league-high 39 assists during the 2006 campaign for the Polar Bears for a NESCAC-best 58 points. Fitzgerald tallied a goal and five assists to lead all scorers in the Polar Bears’ 12-8 victory over Amherst in the first round of the 2006 NESCAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship on April 30.

Fitzgerald headlines a veteran First Team, as the 13-member squad features seven seniors, four juniors and two sophomores. Joining Fitzgerald up front are Amherst junior Derek Cherney (Chappaqua, N.Y.) and Middlebury sophomore Jim Cabrera (Old Greenwich, Conn.), both former NESCAC Rookies of the Year. Cherney, the 2003 Rookie of the Year, has been an All-NESCAC First Team selection in each of his three seasons with the Jeffs, scoring 20 goals and 14 assists for a team-leading 34 points in 2006. Cabrera, the Rookie of the Year last season, overcame an early season injury to lead the NESCAC in goals per game, averaging 2.85 in 13 outings.

At midfield, Wesleyan senior Glenn Adams (Norwalk, Conn.) earned All-Conference First Team recognition for the third consecutive year, after being named to the Second Team and Rookie of the Year in 2003. The two-time All-American was second in the NESCAC in both assists (38) and points (54) this year, leading the Cardinals in scoring for the second-straight season. Along with Adams at midfield are Middlebury senior Aaron Herter (Carlisle, Mass.), Tufts senior Mike O’Brien (Concord, Mass.) and Bates sophomore Brent Morin (Hanover, N.H.). O’Brien is tied for the team lead in points with 20 goals and 11 assists for 31 points while starting all 17 games for the Jumbos.

Amherst senior Andrew Wilcox (Ancramdale, N.Y.) received his fourth NESCAC All-Conference First Team honor at long stick midfielder. Wilcox was a staple once again on defense this season for the Jeffs, leading his squad in face offs and ground balls. At specialist is Middlebury junior Peter Mellen (Cherry Hill, N.J.). Mellen saw action in every Middlebury game this season, leading the team in ground balls with 117 while winning face-offs at a .568 percent clip.

On defense, senior Gabe Wood (Tacoma, Wash.) rounds out the four Middlebury players selected to the First Team this year. Wood went end-to-end to score the winning goal as time expired in the 2006 NESCAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, giving the Panthers their sixth NESCAC title. Wood is joined on defense by Bowdoin senior Brian Duggan (Danvers, Mass.) and Tufts junior Wiley Dornseif (Littleton, Colo.).

Wesleyan junior goalkeeper Charlie Congleton (Groton, Mass.) completes the NESCAC All-Conference First Team. An All-Conference Second Team selection last year, Congleton backboned one of the toughest defenses in the nation this season, leading the conference with a 6.43 goals against average and a .688 save percentage.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Colby attacker Caddy Brooks (Darien, Conn.). Brooks finished the 2006 season tied atop the Mules’ scoring chart with 24 goals and 14 assists for 38 points, scooping up a team-leading 49 ground balls along the way. Brooks is in a two-way tie among NESCAC freshman for goals with Connecticut College rookie Jesse Stevenson, as the two are tied for 11th among all players.

Wesleyan head coach John Raba was the choice among the coaches, earning Coach of the Year honors. Raba, who last earned Coach of the Year in 2001, has guided the Cardinals to a 14-3 overall record so far this season and a third-straight appearance in the NESCAC final.

2006 NESCAC Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Team