NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – A day after helping the Merrimack College men's lacrosse program earn a second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Men's Lacrosse Championship Final, a trio of student-athletes were named to the 2018 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Academic All-New England teams.
Graduate student
John Bassett joined seniors
Eric Coburn and
Dean Prouty among the 92 senior men's lacrosse student-athletes from all three Divisions across the region to earn the honor. Members of the team are nominated by head coaches and are comprised of student-athletes who have excelled both in the classroom and on the field over the course of their men's lacrosse career.
Fifteen student-athletes from seven Division II schools were honored in total.
Coburn, who was an NEILA All-New England selection last week, as well, adds to his list of academic accolades. He was an NE10 Academic All-Conference selection last spring as well as the Elite 90 Award winner at least year's NCAA Championship. The long stick defensive midfield has been a force as a senior, helping push the ball in transition, gaining key possessions on loose-ball faceoff scrums and wreaking plenty of havoc on defense. His 20 caused turnovers lead the team, while his 40 ground balls are the most on the squad for non-faceoff specialists. He has added five points (3g, 2a) on the year, as well.
Bassett has played in eight games after battling back from a preseason injury and has added plenty of value all across the turf. The graduate student has four points on three goals and an assist, and he has started in six of the eight games he has played in. He opens things up for the wide array of offensive options at Merrimack's disposal, as the Warriors are a top-10 scoring offense in the country and have scored double-digit goals in all but one game this year. Ten of Bassett's 20 shot attempts have been on net, and he has added five ground balls and a caused turnover so far this season.
Prouty has been a regular in the lineup and has been a factor in all three ends throughout the season. He has played in all but one of the team's 18 games, contributing on the wings and in the transition midfield, as well as on the defensive third and on occasionally on attack, as well. He has proven to be a capable scorer with 11 points on the year thanks to six goals and five assists. Two of his goals have been of the man-up variety, while he has also added nine ground balls.
The three Warriors will look to conclude their careers as national champions when they battle Saint Leo in the NCAA Championship on Sunday (May 27) at Gillette Stadium, with game time set for 4 p.m.
