Coaches Select Boncaro as Landmark's Top Rookie

Coaches Select Boncaro as Landmark's Top Rookie

Goucher Lands Five Players on 2009 All-Conference Team

May 5, 2009

MADISON, N.J. – Goucher's Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) caught the attention of the head coach of every team the Gophers faced this season with his 28-goal, 35-assist debut. But the coaches who may have come away the most impressed with the freshman attackman are the ones in the Landmark Conference.

In voting by the conference's seven head coaches, Boncaro was not only awarded a first-team spot on the 2009 All-Landmark Conference Men's Lacrosse Team, but was also selected Rookie of the Year in the Landmark Conference.

Boncaro is one of five Goucher players picked by the coaches to fill one of the 26 openings on the all-conference team, which was announced in its entirety this afternoon. The other first-team selections from head coach Kyle Hannan's squad are senior midfielder Brian Hoge (Crofton, Md./Arundel) and sophomore defenseman Justin Dunn (Denver, Colo./Mullen).

The Goucher players who earned spots on the second team are senior attackman Sam Fitzpatrick (Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe) and senior defenseman Andy Nielsen (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven).

Boncaro, one of only three freshmen to land on the all-conference team, led Goucher in assists and points (63). His average of 4.20 points per game ranked first in the Landmark Conference and only seven Division III players in the nation surpassed Boncaro in assists per contest (2.33).

Hoge, a repeat first-team selection, supplied the Gophers with 29 goals and eight assists in his final season. His .382 shooting percent was the highest on the team among players who scored two or more goals during the season.

Dunn is a converted attackman who became the third starter on close defense this season.

Fitzpatrick and Nielsen both started all 15 games in 2009. In his final season at Goucher, Fitzpatrick tallied 35 goals and was second on the team behind Boncaro in points with 51. Nielsen was credited with a total of 45 ground balls.