Massa named New England Player of the Year

POSTSEASON HARDWARE CONTINUES FOR MASSA

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore faceoff specialist Kevin Massa (Huntington, N.Y.) was named the Division I New England Player of the Year and two others were named First Team All-New England by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) on Friday.

Massa, who was also selected to the first team, was recognized just a week ago as the Northeast Conference Player of the Year. Joining him on the first team is senior longpole Mason Poli (Downington, Pa.) and junior middie Colin Dunster (Cos Cob, Conn.). Both Poli and Dunster were First Team All-NEC selections as well.

The best faceoff man in the country, Massa has won a nation-best 71 percent of his faceoffs and set an NCAA single-season record with 223 ground balls. He also added three goals and six assists for nine points. In NEC Championship, Massa went 21-for-25 in the X and picked up 20 ground balls. He recorded a season-high 21 ground balls and tallied three points against Albany.

Arguably the best player at his position in the country, Poli capped off an outstanding senior season this spring. A threat to score with the long pole all season, he is currently sixth on the team in points (22) and seventh in goals scored (14). Poli has also scooped up 33 ground balls and caused 17 turnovers. He recorded a season-high four points (2g, 2a) against Albany and recorded his only hat trick of the year in Bryant's 17-7 victory over Quinnipiac.

Coming off a superb sophomore campaign, Dunster has not disappointed in 2013, recording a Bryant-best 31 goals to help lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA tournament. A second team selection a year ago, Dunster has paced Bryant's offensive attack all season and is currently tied for the team lead with 45 points. He's also coming off one the best games of his career in the NEC championship against Robert Morris. Dunster scored twice and chipped in four helpers to record his first six-point outing of the year. He's also recorded three five-point games and eight hat tricks.