Matt Abbott was selected as a first-team preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse.
Seven Orange Garner Preseason All-America Recognition
12/15/2008 4:05:11 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BALTIMORE – Seven members of the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team were selected as preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse on Monday, Dec. 15. Headlining the Orange’s selections were senior midfielder Matt Abbott (Syracuse, N.Y.) and senior defenseman Sid Smith (Ohsweken, Ontario) who were each picked to the first team. Syracuse, Maryland and Virginia each had seven players recognized by the Inside Lacrosse staff, the most of any school.
In addition to Abbott and Smith, senior attackman Kenny Nims (Watertown, N.Y.) and senior midfielder Dan Hardy (Tully, N.Y.) were picked to the second team. Sophomore Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) was named to the third team as a long-stick midfielder, and senior midfielder Pat Perritt (Holtsville, N.Y.) and sophomore defenseman John Lade (Randolph, N.J.) were honorable mention honorees.
One of the most versatile players in the nation, Abbott was voted a 2009 team captain and he was named to the USILA All-America Third Team following SU’s 2008 national championship season. He played in all 18 contests with 11 starts and saw action in variety of situations, including man-down and on clears. He also manned the wing on faceoffs. Abbott was second on the team last season with 73 ground balls. He scored 21 points (13g, 8a) and had a career-best three goals against Virginia in the NCAA semifinals.
Smith was a USILA Honorable Mention All-American in 2008 and was he named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. He started all 18 games on close defense and was part of an Orange unit that posted a 7.62 team goals-against average, the lowest mark for an SU squad since 1970. He collected 37 ground balls.
Nims was also a USILA Honorable Mention All-American following the 2008 season and formed a fearsome one-two scoring punch on attack with departed senior Mike Leveille. Nims started all 18 games and he finished second on the team in points (58), goals (34) and assists (24). He ranked 23rd nationally with 3.22 points per game and he collected at least one point in 17-of-18 games, including a streak of 16 consecutive games with a point to finish the season. Nims is a 2009 team captain.
Hardy had a strong close to his 2008 campaign to join Nims and Smith as an honorable mention All-Americans. Hardy was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team after finishing second on the team in scoring (13 points) and goals (8) in the postseason, including a hat trick versus Johns Hopkins in the NCAA Championship game. Hardy scored at least two goals in four of the last five games last season and he finished fourth on the Orange with 40 points and 25 goals.
White made an immediate impact as the leader the SU defensive midfield last year. He finished third on the team with 63 ground balls. He also scored three goals and had an assist. White collected a season-best eight ground balls against Virginia in the regular season and teamed with Abbott to man the wings on faceoffs.
Like Abbott and Nims, Perritt has also been voted a 2009 captain by his teammates. He scored 13 points (11g, 2a) and collected 17 ground balls a year ago. He had his best game of the season against Loyola, tying his career high with three goals against the Greyhounds.
Lade transferred to Syracuse from Villanova where he was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) First Team and the CAA All-Rookie Team last season. He was the only freshman in the CAA to be a first-team all-conference choice. Lade started every game for the Wildcats and led the team with 53 ground balls.
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