Little East Conference Men's Lacrosse All-Star Team Announced

Tyler Martone named to First Team... Raul Bourgeois, Ryan Gillis and Eric Small on Second Team

official release from Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA (May 8) - Eastern Connecticut State University earned three of the five major awards this afternoon, when the Little East Conference office announced its 2012 men's lacrosse all-conference teams. Sophomore midfielder Mike Devine (Cheshire, Conn.) was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while senior long-stick midfielder Tommy Flynn (Mineola, N.Y.) was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Warrior boss Justin Axel was chosen as the Coach of the Year by his peers. University of Massachusetts Boston freshman attack Donny Delpha (Walpole, Mass.) was tabbed as the Rookie of the Year, while the Beacons claimed the Team Sportsmanship Award for the second time in the past three years.

In addition to the major awards program, the eight Little East coaches selected the all-conference teams through a vote. Twenty-five student-athletes were represented on the all-conference teams, including 12 players on the top squad.

Devine is the sixth Eastern Connecticut student-athlete to earn the Little East's top offensive award and first since D.J. Simmons headlined the major awards program in 2009. The sophomore from Cheshire, Conn. made his debut on the first-team as a midfield selection after representing the Warriors on the second squad as a rookie. Devine led the conference circuit in man-up goals (8), while ranking among the leaders in goals per game (2nd, 2.65) and points per game (5th, 3.35). A starter in each of his 17 appearances, Devine registered 45 goals and 12 assists for 57 points. He found the back of the net in each contest, including recording nine hat tricks on the campaign. Devine penned a season-high eight points, on five goals and three assists, in his ledger in the season-opening victory at Gordon College. He also accounted for the game-winner against the Fighting Scots. Devine collected 17 ground balls on the season.

Flynn is the fifth Eastern Connecticut player to be honored as the top defensive player in the conference. The senior long-stick midfielder from Mineola, N.Y. also made his fourth consecutive appearance on the All-Little East teams, and third as a member of the top team. Flynn anchored a stifling Warrior defensive attack that limited their opponents to just 8.8 goals per game. Eastern Connecticut held its opponents under its season goals against average seven times on the campaign, including surrendering just three goals at Salem State. A starter in all 17 contests, Flynn was second on the team in ground balls with 49. He scooped up a season-high six at Endicott College on March 6, while falling one ground ball shy of his high-water mark against nationally-ranked Amherst College. Flynn contributed to the offensive rush three assists for three points. Eastern Connecticut will square off against Trinity (Conn.) in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Delpha is just the second Beacon to be selected as the top rookie in the Little East, and first since Ryan O'Rourke in 2003. The attacker from Walpole, Mass. also earned a spot on the All-Little East, second-team. Delpha was tied with Devine for the conference lead in man-up goals (8), while ranking among the leaders in goals per game (7th, 2.12), points per game (7th, 3.00), and game-winning goals (8th, 2). Delpha paced the UMass Boston attack during his freshman season, leading the squad in goals (34), assists (14), and points (48). He appeared in 16 games, starting 10 of them. Delpha recorded his first collegiate marker at Birmingham-Southern on March 11. He registered a season-high five goals and matched his career-best with seven points at Wheelock on April 26. Delpha recorded the game-winner against Little East foe UMass Dartmouth and the Wildcats. He was selected as the top rookie of the week twice on the campaign.

Axel earned the top coach honor for the first time since joining the conference circuit in 2008. Eastern Connecticut reached double figures in victories for the fifth time under his direction, posting a 12-5 overall record. The Warriors captured the 2012 Little East regular-season title for the eighth time in program history, sporting an undefeated 7-0 mark. Eastern Connecticut protected its home field advantage in the conference tournament, defeating fourth-seeded UMass Dartmouth and second-seeded Keene State College. Axel mentored seven members of the all-conference teams, including six first-team selections. The Warriors are currently riding a seven-game win streak into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Formed in 1986, the Little East serves as New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III. Featuring 19 championship sports, the Little East sponsors quality competition in every season for our student athletes. Our eight state colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship, and citizenship.