Army West Point Athletics
Army Lacrosse Team Hands Out Awards
May 20, 2007 | Men's Lacrosse
WEST POINT, N.Y. Fourteen players were honored as the Army lacrosse team wrapped up its season at the squad’s annual awards picnic Sunday afternoon at the West Point Firsties Club.
Goalie Adam Fullerton was named most valuable player while Paul Wigdzinski, Eddie Clark, Sam Harrison, Nick LoRusso, Brian Ivany, Pat Fullerton, Mike Hanna, Craig Massie, Alex Rhoads, Justin Bokmeyer, Jay Larson, Adam Hansinger and manager Jack Pinney were all honored.
Adam Fullerton, who was among the nation’s leaders in save percentage and goals against average, was presented the Gen. James V. Hartinger MVP Award. Fullerton was the Patriot League “Goalie of the Year,” and was a first-team all- league selection with a 7.79 goals against average and 58.1 save percentage.
Fullerton, a junior from Liverpool, N.Y., is a three-year starter and made double-digit saves in eight games this season. He turned away 16 shots when Army beat then-No. 2 ranked Syracuse and followed that up with a career-best 18 saves against Holy Cross. He had three straight games with at least 10 saves against Cornell (now the No. 1 team in the country), Lehigh and Air Force. He made 16 saves against Bucknell, 10 against NCAA tournament participant Navy and 13 against Duke, the No. 2 team in the country and the top-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Wigdzinski, a junior midfielder from Levittown, N.Y., was given the Lt. Ray Enners Memorial Saber Award for the most ground balls in the Army-Navy game. Wigdzinski scooped five ground balls in the regular season contest and also scored twice. For the season, Wigdzinski had nine goals and one assist and 24 ground balls.
Clark, a senior co-captain and goalie from Skaneateles, N.Y., was presented with the Scholar/Athlete Award for the highest grade point average on the team. Clark appeared in five games in his final season and had a 55.6 save percentage.
Harrison, a defenseman from Mountain Lakes, N.J., won the Gen. L.E. Seemen Memorial Award for the top plebe player. Harrison played in all 15 games in his rookie campaign and scooped 10 ground balls.
Nick LoRusso, Brian Ivany, Patrick Fullerton and Mike Hanna shared the F. Morris Touchstone Coaches Award for team spirit and personal sacrifice. LoRusso, a senior goal from Rocky Point, N.Y., played in four games this season and had a 66.7 save percentage. Ivany, a senior middie from Carlisle, Pa., played in 12 games and won 10 of 23 face-offs. Patrick Fullerton, a junior attack from Liverpool, N.Y., played in eight games and had six shots on goal. Hanna, a junior midfielder from Massapequa, N.Y., played in all 15 games and dished out two assists and scooped four ground balls. He also won three of six on face-offs.
Massie, a junior defenseman from Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., was presented with the Gen. George Ruhlen Award for the most improved player. Massie started all 15 games on defense and scooped 20 ground balls. He was named the Patriot League Defender of the Week in February and was a second-team All-Patriot League selection.
Rhoads, a sophomore midfielder from McLean, Va., picked up the Steve S. Vlahakis Unsung Player Award. Rhoads played in all 15 games and had five goals and an assist along with 24 ground balls. Rhoads scored in three straight games against Colgate, Bucknell and Navy and also added tallies against Lehigh and Ohio State.
For the third year consecutive year, Pinney was named the Gerard F. O’Connor Memorial Award winner for best cadet support. Pinney is a senior from Yucca Valley, Calif., who has responsibilities for equipment, uniforms and statistics.
Bokmeyer took home the Lt. Ray Enners/Chris Pettit Memorial Award as the best offensive player. The junior from El Cajon, Calif., was tied for the team lead with 19 goals and led the team in assists (10) and points (29). He scored four times against Holy Cross and then had a six-point game with five goals and an assist against Rutgers. He scored goals in 10 games this season and was a second-team All-Patriot League selection.
Larson, a junior from Troy, N.Y., earned the Jack Rust Award for the best defensive player. Larson started 11 games this season before an injury in the Duke contest. He was often charged with marking the opposition’s best offensive player and also had a goal and two assists on the season. In his first collegiate start, he had a goal and assist against Marist.
The Jack Emmer “Nutcracker” Award was given for the second year to the most physical player and Hansinger earned the award. A junior from Auburn, N.Y., Hansinger started all 15 games on defense and had one assist as well as 25 ground balls.
Head coach Joe Alberici also presented Black Knights’ awards for each game, recognized the All-Patriot League performers and thanked a long list of people for their help and support of Army lacrosse including assistant coaches Mac Diange and Mike Murphy, athletic intern Matt Luyster, parents, administrators, faculty, officer representatives and support staff.
