Posted: Apr 27, 2018

Leary named Rookie of the Year; four others gain All-CCC recognition

Pat Leary was named Rookie of the Year while four others garnered All-CCC recognition for the Seahawks.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) announced its 2018 Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams and major award winners Friday morning. Eight of the nine CCC schools were represented on this year's All-Conference list. CCC Regular-Season Champion Western New England led the way with 12 selections.

Highlighting the Golden Bears' list of honorees was sophomore Nick Gamba (East Islip, N.Y.) who was voted the 2018 Offensive Player of the Year. Endicott's Hayden Souza (West Hartford, Conn.) was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year and also added his second-consecutive Short-Stick Specialist of the Year honor. Salve Regina's Pat Leary (Wakefield, Mass.) was picked as the Rookie of the Year with Nichols' Steven Moutsoulas (Salem, Mass.) being named the Senior Scholar-Athlete. Curry head coach Tim Murphy was named Coach of the Year and Nichols won the Team Sportsmanship award.

Voting for the All-CCC teams and each of the major awards was conducted by the conference's nine men's lacrosse head coaches following the conclusion of the regular season.

Joining Leary on the All-Conference squad is senior Andrew Fera (Cranston, R.I.), Brendan Kelly (Long Beach, N.Y.), Mike Mongelli (Roslyn, N.Y.), and Ethan Robson (Lincoln, R.I.).

Leary was a four-time Rookie of the Week selection during the regular season as he compiled a league-leading 51 goals. He also ranked first in man-down goals (4), setting a new program record, and second in the CCC it total points (73; 51g, 22a). He earns first team honors as well as Rookie of the Year.

"Pat has been a tremendous boost to our team. Not only scoring goals, but distributing the ball and as the year went on registering more assists as the slides came," said head coach Pat Cooney. "He has the confidence and skills to go to goal. Pat complimented Zach Makoske and Andrew Fera extremely well as part of the attack unit. Together they continue to push our transition and settled offense."

Andrew Fera gets his first All-Conference selection after being named a second team attackman. Fera was second on the Seahawks in goals scored (38). The senior currently ranks second all-time for goals scored in program history (136) and fourth in all-time points (176).

"Andrew has been a four year goal scoring machine for Salve Regina," said Cooney. "Teams have to respect his inside and outside shooting ability. Mr. Fera has grown to become an excellent feeder as the slides came. He is a strong force on the field and in the locker-room. We will all miss Andrew on that left side next year."

Brendan Kelly makes an All-Conference squad in his freshman campaign, being named a third team midfielder.

"Brendan has game. On ball and off, on offense and defense he has great instincts and anticipates well," said Cooney. "Teams often rope him, a challenge he does not shy away from. He has shown great versatility inside and outside on offensive units and especially helps push our transition offense."

Mike Mongelli makes his second all-conference squad this time as a third team long stick midfielder. Mongelli ranks first in the CCC in caused turnovers (43) and also contributed three goals and two assists.

"Mike is a force on the field. A ground ball machine," said Cooney. "He helps control the middle of the field off the face and our transition offense. Athletic and fast, he has a great acceleration burst. He often covers top opponents and often generates caused turnovers resulting in early offense for our attack. He's got juice bottom line. Love his energy."

Ethan Robson makes his first All-CCC squad, being named third team midfielder.

"Ethan is a excellent midfielder," said Cooney. "He can shoot both hard and accurately. On and off ball Ethan has off the charts vision and the skill to get it there. Athletic, when on ball he is elusive and difficult to cover. He helps his midline with goals, assists, and secondary assists."

"Overall, we are thrilled that Pat, Andrew, Brendan, Ethan, and Mike have been recognized as All-CCC honorees. Our entire team takes great pride in the recognition of these five men."

Salve Regina (10-6, 4-4 CCC) will travel to face the University of New England in the quarterfinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference(CCC) playoffs on Saturday, April 28, at 1 p.m.