Mike Ball Named NEILA Division II Player of the Year
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Mike Ball (Salem, NH) of the Southern New Hampshire University men’s lacrosse team was named the 2008 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Division II Player of the Year on Tuesday. In addition, five other Penmen were named to the All-New England team. John Delanoy (Lansdale, PA), Chris Dindler (Stephney, Australia) and Sean Ball (Salem, NH) were all First Team selections, while Gary McKay (Billerica, MA) and Mike Scotina (Peabody, MA) were both named to the Second Team.
Mike Ball, who was named Northeast-10 First Team All-Conference, was one of the top offensive threats in the country in 2008. He is currently ranked first in Division II in goals per game and fourth in points per game, as in 12 games he recorded 55 goals and five assists for 60 points. Ball recorded multiple goals in every game and failed to score at least three goals just one time. He was a two-time NE-10 Player of the Week and was named to the league’s honor roll every week of the season.
Delanoy, a three-time All-New England and Northeast-10 All-Conference selection, ranked third on the Penmen in scoring, totaling 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points. Delanoy recorded at least one goal in nine of 12 games, including a season-high four tallies in a win over Franklin Pierce. Delanoy eclipsed the 100-point plateau this season and served as a tri-captain.
Dindler was named to the All-New England team for the second straight season. Starting all 12 games for the Penmen, he recorded 10 goals and six assists for 16 points. He recorded at least one goal in seven of 12 contests, including a season-high three goals and an assist in a win over Saint Michael’s, and also recorded the game-winning goal in a triumph over American International.
Sean Ball finished fifth on Southern New Hampshire in scoring, notching 15 goals and five assists for 20 points while starting all 12 games. He scored one goal in nine of 12 games and recorded multiple goals on four occasions. Sean recorded a season-best three goals and an assist in a season-opening setback to nationally-ranked Dowling and also registered three goals in a road victory over Franklin Pierce.
McKay, a freshman, quickly established himself as one of the top faceoff men in Division II. He won 193 of 297 faceoffs this season (65%), placing him third in the Northeast-10 and seventh nationally. His 81 ground balls were also tops on the team and seventh in Division II. McKay also recorded a pair of goals and three assists on the season.
Scotina, another freshman, was a mainstay of the Penmen defense and received All-New England honors despite missing the final three games of the season due to injury. Scotina started all nine games in which he appeared and was consistently called on to cover the other team’s top attacker.