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The Ithaca men’s lacrosse team had six players receive year-end honors from the Empire 8 announced by the league office on Thursday. Senior David Gal, a three-time Empire 8 selection, led the way for the Bombers earning Empire 8 first-team accolades.
Junior Tom Mongelli and senior Michael Silipo tallied second-team recognition, while senior Jay Lucas, junior Brian DiBetta and sophomore Adam Wacenske (Gates Chili) received honorable mention to the all-conference team.
Gal, Empire 8 Goalie of the Year and an honorable mention all-American as a junior, recorded an Empire 8-best save percentage of 60.5, stopping 78 shots for a goals-against average of 6.86 in conference play. His average was the second lowest in the league. Gal made nine or more saves in 14 games this year, including 17 against nationally-ranked squads in RIT and Cortland.
Mongelli, an attackman, led the Bombers with 18 goals in Empire 8 play, in addition to four assists and 18 ground balls. He recorded a season-high five goals against the Tigers and added four in the Bombers’ win over Elmira. Silipo joined him on the second team having scored 13 goals. He added 13 ground balls and dished out one assist for the Blue and Gold. Silipo scored a career-high five goals against Hartwick on April 24.
Lucas received honorable mention for the second straight year, while DiBetta and Wacenske earned the honor for the first time. Lucas, a midfielder, tallied eight times and made seven assists during Empire 8 games.
Ithaca will make its eighth straight appearance in the Empire 8 tournament on Friday, May 6 at 4 p.m. The fourth-seeded Bombers will travel to top-seeded and second-ranked RIT for an Empire 8 semifinal contest.
Adam Wacenske Profile
Position: Defense
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Rochester
High School: Gates-Chili
Major: Integrated Marketing Communications
Parents: Don and Beth Wacenske
Freshman year at Ithaca: Wacenske saw action in 13 games as a freshman. He collected seven ground balls, including a season-best three at Hartwick, and caused four turnovers.
At Gates Chili: A 2009 graduate of Gates-Chili High School, Wacenske was a two-year varsity letter winner for coach Mark Sweeney. Wacenske earned first team all-county honors as a junior and senior and was an honorable mention selection to the All-Greater Rochester team. He was team captain as a senior. Wacenske also lettered twice in football.
Dan Enright can be reached at (585) 394-0770 ext. 272, or denright@messengerpostmedia.com
The Ithaca men’s lacrosse team had six players receive year-end honors from the Empire 8 announced by the league office on Thursday. Senior David Gal, a three-time Empire 8 selection, led the way for the Bombers earning Empire 8 first-team accolades.
Junior Tom Mongelli and senior Michael Silipo tallied second-team recognition, while senior Jay Lucas, junior Brian DiBetta and sophomore Adam Wacenske (Gates Chili) received honorable mention to the all-conference team.
Gal, Empire 8 Goalie of the Year and an honorable mention all-American as a junior, recorded an Empire 8-best save percentage of 60.5, stopping 78 shots for a goals-against average of 6.86 in conference play. His average was the second lowest in the league. Gal made nine or more saves in 14 games this year, including 17 against nationally-ranked squads in RIT and Cortland.
Mongelli, an attackman, led the Bombers with 18 goals in Empire 8 play, in addition to four assists and 18 ground balls. He recorded a season-high five goals against the Tigers and added four in the Bombers’ win over Elmira. Silipo joined him on the second team having scored 13 goals. He added 13 ground balls and dished out one assist for the Blue and Gold. Silipo scored a career-high five goals against Hartwick on April 24.
Lucas received honorable mention for the second straight year, while DiBetta and Wacenske earned the honor for the first time. Lucas, a midfielder, tallied eight times and made seven assists during Empire 8 games.
Ithaca will make its eighth straight appearance in the Empire 8 tournament on Friday, May 6 at 4 p.m. The fourth-seeded Bombers will travel to top-seeded and second-ranked RIT for an Empire 8 semifinal contest.
Adam Wacenske Profile
Position: Defense
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Rochester
High School: Gates-Chili
Major: Integrated Marketing Communications
Parents: Don and Beth Wacenske
Freshman year at Ithaca: Wacenske saw action in 13 games as a freshman. He collected seven ground balls, including a season-best three at Hartwick, and caused four turnovers.
At Gates Chili: A 2009 graduate of Gates-Chili High School, Wacenske was a two-year varsity letter winner for coach Mark Sweeney. Wacenske earned first team all-county honors as a junior and senior and was an honorable mention selection to the All-Greater Rochester team. He was team captain as a senior. Wacenske also lettered twice in football.
Dan Enright can be reached at (585) 394-0770 ext. 272, or denright@messengerpostmedia.com
