‘Cuse Trio Earns IL All-America Honors
5/17/2023 10:38:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
BALTIMORE – A trio of standouts for the Syracuse University men's lacrosse team earned All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse, which announced its annual media All-Americans Wednesday morning.
Senior netminder Will Mark was selected Third Team All-America by the media, while freshman attackman Joey Spallina and junior defender/long-stick midfielder Saam Olexo were named Honorable Mention.
One of the 25 players named among the Tewaaraton Trophy Nominees, Mark started in all 15 games for the Orange, posting 868 minutes. In that stretch, Mark made 207 saves, averaging 13.8 per game, which ranks eighth-best in Division I as of May 15. Hailing from Danville, California, Mark stopped double-digit shots in 13 games, including a season-best 22 against No. 5 Duke (March 5). Mark, who was also named USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mention, finished his first season in Central New York with a 54.2 save percentage and a 12.09 goals against average. An ACC Defensive Player of the Week honoree, Mark grabbed 27 ground balls with three caused turnovers.
The ACC Freshman of the Year and the Syracuse Athletics Male Rookie of the Year, Spallina led the Orange with 68 points, tallying 36 goals and 32 assists as a true freshman. He scored on 34.0 percent of his shots while racking 10 man-up goals on one of the most potent power plays in Division I. His 68 points rank third in program history for a freshman, while his goal total is fourth-best alongside the third-most assists. As of May 15, Spallina leads all freshmen in Division I in points this season, is one of two rookies in the country with at least 50 points and is the only freshman north of 60. Spallina, who hails from Mount Sinai, New York, finished his first season in the ACC with 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists, averaging 3.5 points per ACC contest this year.
A versatile athlete who played at both close defense and long-stick midfield this season, Olexo led the Orange with 26 caused turnovers and 53 ground balls, second-most by a 'Cuse player this year. A force in transition, the Annapolis, Marylander notched six points on four goals and two assists, including a full-field takeaway check leading to a give-and-go goal against No. 3 Notre Dame (April 1). Serving on the faceoff wing as well, Olexo accounted for 53 ground balls during his junior campaign with the Orange, including eight at No. 3 Virginia (April 22). Olexo finished the final month of the regular season with 19 ground balls and five caused turnovers in a five-game span. As of May 15, Olexo ranks 19th in Division I in caused turnovers per game (1.73), which ranks second in the ACC.
From Inside Lacrosse
Inside Lacrosse's Media All-America list was voted on by a dozen media members who vote in the weekly Media Poll. Each voter selected up to four teams of players featuring three attackmen, three midfielders, a face-off specialist, two shortstick d-middies, an LSM, three defenders and a goalie. Votes were tabulated and sorted into three teams, with remaining players who received a significant share of votes added to the honorable mention list. Voting was completed after the conference tournaments and before the NCAA First Round.
Senior netminder Will Mark was selected Third Team All-America by the media, while freshman attackman Joey Spallina and junior defender/long-stick midfielder Saam Olexo were named Honorable Mention.
One of the 25 players named among the Tewaaraton Trophy Nominees, Mark started in all 15 games for the Orange, posting 868 minutes. In that stretch, Mark made 207 saves, averaging 13.8 per game, which ranks eighth-best in Division I as of May 15. Hailing from Danville, California, Mark stopped double-digit shots in 13 games, including a season-best 22 against No. 5 Duke (March 5). Mark, who was also named USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mention, finished his first season in Central New York with a 54.2 save percentage and a 12.09 goals against average. An ACC Defensive Player of the Week honoree, Mark grabbed 27 ground balls with three caused turnovers.
The ACC Freshman of the Year and the Syracuse Athletics Male Rookie of the Year, Spallina led the Orange with 68 points, tallying 36 goals and 32 assists as a true freshman. He scored on 34.0 percent of his shots while racking 10 man-up goals on one of the most potent power plays in Division I. His 68 points rank third in program history for a freshman, while his goal total is fourth-best alongside the third-most assists. As of May 15, Spallina leads all freshmen in Division I in points this season, is one of two rookies in the country with at least 50 points and is the only freshman north of 60. Spallina, who hails from Mount Sinai, New York, finished his first season in the ACC with 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists, averaging 3.5 points per ACC contest this year.
A versatile athlete who played at both close defense and long-stick midfield this season, Olexo led the Orange with 26 caused turnovers and 53 ground balls, second-most by a 'Cuse player this year. A force in transition, the Annapolis, Marylander notched six points on four goals and two assists, including a full-field takeaway check leading to a give-and-go goal against No. 3 Notre Dame (April 1). Serving on the faceoff wing as well, Olexo accounted for 53 ground balls during his junior campaign with the Orange, including eight at No. 3 Virginia (April 22). Olexo finished the final month of the regular season with 19 ground balls and five caused turnovers in a five-game span. As of May 15, Olexo ranks 19th in Division I in caused turnovers per game (1.73), which ranks second in the ACC.
From Inside Lacrosse
Inside Lacrosse's Media All-America list was voted on by a dozen media members who vote in the weekly Media Poll. Each voter selected up to four teams of players featuring three attackmen, three midfielders, a face-off specialist, two shortstick d-middies, an LSM, three defenders and a goalie. Votes were tabulated and sorted into three teams, with remaining players who received a significant share of votes added to the honorable mention list. Voting was completed after the conference tournaments and before the NCAA First Round.
Players Mentioned
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