Monday

Monday, June 13, 2005

DEVIN CLARKE SELECTED NEW ENGLAND PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Five Jumbos picked to NEILA All-New England Team

MEDFORD – Senior midfielder Devin Clarke (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) was named the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's (NEILA) 2005 Division III Player of the Year, leading a contingent of five Jumbos named to the NEILA All-New England team.

Clarke, who led the Jumbos with 28 goals and 115 shots in 14 games, earned a boatload of honors this spring. He was named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Co-Player of the Year and First Team, and to the United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's STX-GEICO All-America Third Team.

Also honored as All-New England was senior Bryan Griffin (West Islip, NY/West Islip) on attack, junior Mike O'Brien (Concord, MA/Middlesex) at midfield, and junior Ave Cook (Williamstown, MA/Holderness) and sophomore Wiley Dornseif (Littleton, CO/Phillips Exeter) on defense.

Griffin, the New England and NESCAC Player of the Year in the previous two seasons, was third among New England scorers with 4.64 points per game. He was also third in the region in assists at 2.64 per game. O'Brien (20 goals, including 5 man-up) joined Clarke to form one of the top midfields in the nation for the Jumbos. They were the only team with two middies recognized on the NEILA team.

Likewise, the Jumbos were the only team with two defenders on the All-New England squad. Tufts ranked third in New England and 11^th nationally allowing 7.29 goals per game this spring. Cook, though injured for a good part of the year, intimidated opposing attackers with his size and skill. Dornseif had a breakout season, scooping 30 ground balls to go with strong play around the goal.

With its five All-New England representatives, the Jumbos had two more than any other team. Middlebury, Springfield and Wesleyan had three apiece. With its strength on offense and defense, Tufts ranked 16^th in the NCAA Division III Statistics with a 4.29 scoring margin over its opponents. They scored 162 goals and surrendered 102.

Head Coach Mike Daly's team finished 9-5 overall, ranked sixth in New England and ranked 17^th in the country.