Five Student-Athletes Earn ECAC Division III New England All-Star Honors
May 27, 2009 - Five student athletes from the Pilgrim Lacrosse League were recently honored for their outstandings seasons as the ECAC named its 2009 Division III New England Men's Lacrosse All-Stars, Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.
Springfield College had five players received accolades as Tom Albano was named the Goalkeeper of the Year, while Mike Delia was tabbed the Rookie of the year. Teammates Jake Beebe and Sam Burrell joined Albano on the ECAC All-Star First Team. Lasell College's Mike Maggio was also named to the ECAC All-Star First Team.
Albano had one of the greatest seasons statistically in Springfield history as he totaled the single-lowest goals against average in program history, a 7.04, to go along with a .613 save percentage. The Ridgewood, N.J. native finished with 171 saves this season, and proved to be a big-game player. It was never more evident than in the NCAA Tournament Second Round game against eventual national champion Cortland State, when Albano registered a career-best 22 stops.
Delia was impressive for the Pride in his first season as he quickly became one of the squad's top midfielders. A Wading River, N.Y. native, Delia tallied 15 goals and 12 assists to go along with 41 ground balls. An athlete who possesses great speed and quickness, Delia went 49-87 (56%) on face-offs this season. He was also selected as the Pilgrim Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year in his first season of collegiate lacrosse.
Burrell, a preseason All-American honorable mention selection, was one of the Pride's top defenders this season. The Cumberland, Maine native had a team-best 28 caused turnovers this season and scooped up 341 ground balls. A physical player, Burrell has been crucial in the Pride's clearing game as it had a clearing percentage just under 80% this year.
The Pilgrim Lacrosse Player of the Year, Beebe turned in one of the most impressive offensive careers in program history. He ended his career ranked in the top seven in the three major offensive categories as he tallied 127 goals (7th most), 126 assists (4th most), and 253 points (4th most) throughout his four years. His senior season was also one of the best single seasons in program history. The Sudbury, Mass. product's 46 assists were the second most for a player in a year, while his 87 points was the fourth-highest total for a player in one season.
A three-time Pilgrim League All-Conference selection, Maggio completed his senior year with 44 total points and was tied for first on the team in assists this season, and was second in both goals and total points. He added 28 groundballs, playing in all fifteen contests. Over the course of his career, the Winchester, Mass. native accumulated 95 goals, 40 assists and 135 total points, placing him at 6th in the all time records for goals, tied for 8th in total assists, and 7th overall in points.
