Three Orange Collect USILA All-America Honors
5/25/2023 12:02:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Three standouts on the Syracuse University men's lacrosse team have earned USILA All-America honors. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) announced its All-America teams Thursday afternoon.
Senior netminder Will Mark was a Third-Team All-America selection, while rookie attackman Joey Spallina and graduate student midfielder Cole Kirst earned Honorable Mention plaudits.
Mark, who was one of the 25 players named among the Tewaaraton Trophy Nominees, started in all 15 games for the Orange, playing 868 minutes in the cage. In that stretch, the Inside Lacrosse All-America Third Team selection made 207 saves, averaging 13.8 per game, which ranks eighth-best in Division I as of May 21. Matriculating 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. This is Mark's second time earning USILA All-America distinction as he was an Honorable Mention pick last season while playing at LIU.
Spallina, who was tabbed ACC Freshman of the Year, led the Orange with 68 points, tallying 36 goals and 32 assists as a true freshman. The Syracuse Athletics Male Rookie of the Year, Spallina 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. An Inside Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention, Spallina's 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 21, 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.
Picked 18th overall in the 2023 PLL College Draft, Kirst was a versatile offensive player for the Orange and played at both midfield and attack this year, finishing third on the team in points with 26 goals and 11 assists, canning 36.1 percent of his shots. An All-ACC selection and graduate student at Syracuse, Kirst was voted as a team captain by his peers this fall. The Bernardsville, New Jersey product scored at least one point in 14 of the 15 games this season, including multiple points in 12 contests. The Lehigh University graduate transfer finished with four hat tricks, including a four-goal, five-point outburst against No. 5 Duke (March 5). Kirst surpassed the 100-point mark for his career in the 'Cuse win over Hobart (March 25).
Senior netminder Will Mark was a Third-Team All-America selection, while rookie attackman Joey Spallina and graduate student midfielder Cole Kirst earned Honorable Mention plaudits.
Mark, who was one of the 25 players named among the Tewaaraton Trophy Nominees, started in all 15 games for the Orange, playing 868 minutes in the cage. In that stretch, the Inside Lacrosse All-America Third Team selection made 207 saves, averaging 13.8 per game, which ranks eighth-best in Division I as of May 21. Matriculating 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. This is Mark's second time earning USILA All-America distinction as he was an Honorable Mention pick last season while playing at LIU.
Spallina, who was tabbed ACC Freshman of the Year, led the Orange with 68 points, tallying 36 goals and 32 assists as a true freshman. The Syracuse Athletics Male Rookie of the Year, Spallina 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. An Inside Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention, Spallina's 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 21, 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.
Picked 18th overall in the 2023 PLL College Draft, Kirst was a versatile offensive player for the Orange and played at both midfield and attack this year, finishing third on the team in points with 26 goals and 11 assists, canning 36.1 percent of his shots. An All-ACC selection and graduate student at Syracuse, Kirst was voted as a team captain by his peers this fall. The Bernardsville, New Jersey product scored at least one point in 14 of the 15 games this season, including multiple points in 12 contests. The Lehigh University graduate transfer finished with four hat tricks, including a four-goal, five-point outburst against No. 5 Duke (March 5). Kirst surpassed the 100-point mark for his career in the 'Cuse win over Hobart (March 25).
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