MLAX: GNAC Announces 2021 All-Conference Teams & Major Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEAGUE LEADERS | ALL-GNAC HISTORY

GNAC champion Lasell well-represented,
winning four major individual awards

WINTHROP, Mass. – Lasell University took home numerous individual major awards and saw seven student-athletes selected to the top squad as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference announced its 2021 Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams on Tuesday morning.

All selections and awards were decided upon by a vote of the GNAC's head coaches. For the complete breakdown of All-Conference Teams, as well as the annual All-Sportsmanship Team, please see below. 

Lasers grad student Chase Kapuscienski was voted the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 32 goals and 12 assists for 44 points, as Lasell went unbeaten in GNAC play before coming out on top in the GNAC Tournament this spring.

The Lasers' accolades continued as sophomore teammate Magnus Leonard was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, after helping anchor a defense that allowed just 36 goals in six league contests, registering 17 groundballs in those games and 28 overall. 

Lasell junior netminder Alex Beauchemin was honored with GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors, posting a .650 save percentage and 9.35 goals-against average.

Sixth-year head coach Bill Mason was voted GNAC Coach of the Year following a vote by his peers, marking the second time he has won the award (2017). 

From Lasell, joining Kapuscienski, Leonard and Beauchemin on the All-GNAC First Team were seniors Andrew Fidalgo, Colby Buccheri and Ethan Bain. Fidalgo was the GNAC point leader (56) on 35 goals and 21 helpers. 

Garnering GNAC Rookie of the Year honors was Johnson & Wales University (RI) sophomore midfielder Andrew Vasile, who also received First Team accolades. Vasile registered 21 goals and eight assists on the season for the Wildcats, who earned the No. 4 seed in the GNAC Tournament. 

Other noteworthy All-GNAC First Team selections included Norwich University senior attacker Payden Masaracchia – the GNAC goals leader with 41 tallies – and Saint Joseph's College of Maine senior Shane Puleo, who notched 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points. 

FIRST TEAM
A - Andrew Fidalgo, Lasell
A - Payden Masaracchia, Norwich
A - Shane Puleo, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M - Colby Buccheri, Lasell
M - Chase Kapuscienski, Lasell
M - Andrew Vasile, Johnson & Wales (RI)
LSM - Alex Osmanski, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
SSM - David Burke, Lasell
F/O - Thomas Muraski, Norwich
D - Ethan Bain, Lasell
D - Magnus Leonard, Lasell
D - Sean Wallace, Norwich
GK - Alex Beauchemin, Lasell

SECOND TEAM
A - Jack Anzalone, Norwich
A - Parker Campbell, Norwich
A - Dylan McSparren, Rivier
M - Russell Gilligan, Norwich
M - Clyde Tamburro, Norwich
M - Coby Mercier, Rivier
LSM - Kyle Charlot, Lasell
SSM - Callum Jones, Norwich
F/O - Steven Phelps, Lasell
D - Mike Catuosco, Johnson & Wales (RI)
D - Tyler Rose, Lasell
D - Mason McMahon, Norwich
GK - Nick Kandra, Norwich

THIRD TEAM
A - Ryan Castle, Emmanuel (Mass.)
A - Owen LaPorte, St. Joseph (Conn.)
A - Brendan Martin, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M - Mykel Stinson, Albertus Magnus
M - Kevin Horchak, Norwich
M - Matt Guerin, St. Joseph (Conn.)
LSM - Dan Altomare, Norwich
SSM - Jacob Enwright, Rivier
F/O - Trent Ceiley, Johnson & Wales (RI)
D - Matt Zuckerman, Johnson & Wales (RI)
D - Robert DelPrete, Rivier
D - Adam Hailey, Rivier
GK - Dane Walsh, Albertus Magnus

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Jack Ferrio, Albertus Magnus
Tyler Shaw, Anna Maria 
Greg Centeio, Dean
Morgan Mercier, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Trent Ceiley, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Colby Buccheri, Lasell 
Perry Grzela, Norwich  
Alan Cozzolino, Rivier
Evan Baden, St. Joseph (Conn.)
Tyler DeMoore-Gonzalez, Saint Joseph's (Me.)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Chase Kapuscienski, Lasell
DEFENSIVE PLAYER  OF THE YEAR - Magnus Leonard, Lasell
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - Alex Beauchemin, Lasell
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Andrew Vasile, Johnson & Wales (RI)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Bill Mason, Lasell 
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Albertus Magnus College

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –