Nine Bulldogs earn spots on All-NEC teams

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Following a 10-4 regular season and a 5-1 record in Northeast Conference play, nine representatives of the Bryant University men's lacrosse team have been named all-league honorees.

Of the nine players, two were named to first-team all-conference, six to second-team and one to all-rookie. Junior attack Tucker James (Essex Fells, N.J.) and junior defense Kyle Mummau (Carlsbad, Calif.) were named All-NEC First-Team selections for the second-consecutive season.

James was the leader for the Bulldogs offensively with a career high of 52 points on 30 goals and a personal best of 22 assists, as he led the league with 1.57 helpers per game. James tied the program record for points in a game with 13 (6g, 7a) against Wagner on April 9.

Mummau makes his second first-team all-conference after a lockdown season that saw the Bulldogs finish with the 17th-best scoring defense (8.64) and the 13th-most caused turnovers (7.79) in the nation. Mummau appeared in and started all 14 games, causing 10 turnovers and securing 17 ground balls.

The Bryant-laden second-team all-conference features senior captains Shane Morrell (Glen Mills, Pa.) and Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.), each earning the selection for a second time. Joining them on the team are first-time selections, sophomore defenders Chas South (Lincroft, N.J.) and Anthony Johnson (Fairfield, Conn.) and midfielders Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Ryan Sharpe (Poway, Calif.).

Morrell finished second on the team with 39 points on 29 goals and 10 assists, and he became Bryant's all-time leader in game-winning goals this season. Waldt was stellar once again between the pipes, finishing the regular season with 153 saves, 10.93 per game which was 17th in the nation, an 8.56 goals-against average to finish 15th in the country and a 56.7 save percentage to finish ninth at the Division I level.

South and Johnson were the other two cogs in the defense that held teams to under nine goals per game. Both started all 14 regular-season games, as South led the team with 1.50 caused turnovers per game to go with 41 ground balls, and Johnson caused 15 turnovers and picked up 17 ground balls.

Kennedy was a spark for the Bulldogs this season with key goals and big-time games. The speedster registered 19 points on 14 goals and five assists. Sharpe broke out this season with 36 points on 24 goals and 12 assists, all doubling his previous career highs.

Defenseman Mike Vailas (Bedford, N.H.) earns a spot on the all-rookie team after establishing himself as a consistent second-line defender. Vailas appeared in 13 games and picked up 14 ground balls in his first year as a Bulldog.

Bryant will look to bring home a fifth-straight NEC Tournament title this week in Philadelphia, with the defense beginning on Thursday against Hobart in the #3 - #2 Semifinal matchup.