Poli earns USILA All-America honors

JUNIOR MASON POLI NAMED USILA ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- For the second-straight season, Bryant University men's lacrosse defenseman Mason Poli (Downingtown, Pa.) has been named an All-America Honorable Mention, as announced Thursday by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).

The junior longpole adds the honor to an already impressive list of postseason accolades, including first-team nods from both the Northeast Conference and the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA). Poli becomes the program's first repeat Division I All-American, and the 2012 honor represents the fourth-straight season in which a Bulldog has been recognized among the USILA's top players.

The most potent offensive threat of any longpole in the nation in 2012, Poli was a key component in Bryant's conference championship season, ranking fifth on the team with 19 goals and finishing with 25 points in a year that saw the Bulldogs set a Division I program record with 14 victories. The team's 14-4 overall record also tied the all-time program mark for wins in a season.

Poli was also a game-changer on defense and in wing play off the faceoff, picking up a ground ball in all but two contests and totaling 44 on the year while forcing 11 caused turnovers. A Tewaaraton Award semifinalist, the Pennsylvania native converted more than 70 percent of his shots on goal into scores and fired 41 shots while recording the game winner against Wagner College April 22. Poli also boasted a pair of hat tricks on the 2012 campaign, coming against Albany on the road March 17 and against eventual NCAA tournament qualifier Yale in New Haven on April 20.

"Mason is the greatest offensive LSM I have had the pleasure of coaching in the last 29 years," said head coach Mike Pressler. "His 19 goals and 25 points this season were incredible. Off the faceoff wing and from defensive to offense, he is such a force in the middle of the field, and we are all looking forward to an even better overall performance in his upcoming senior season."

Poli's 2012 All-America Honorable Mention selection represents the fourth such nomination for the Bulldog lacrosse program in as many years competing at the Division I level. The honor follows his 2011 accolade, as well as USILA All-America nods for defenseman Matt Murnane in 2010 (Honorable Mention) and attack Zack Greer in 2009 (Second Team).

Poli will return in 2012-13 for his senior season as the Bulldogs look to defend their NEC Tournament title and compete to earn the Northeast Conference's first berth into the NCAA tournament.