May 6, 2013
SUNYAC Names Men's Lacrosse Coach, Player and Rookie of the Year
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has announced the 2013 Men's Lacrosse Coach, Player and Rookie of the Year as voted on by the conference coaches.
Player of the Year: Joe Slavik (Cortland)
Joe Slavik has been named the Men's Lacrosse SUNYAC Player of the Year after leading the Cortland Red Dragons to its sixth-straight conference title. Slavik added one groundball and one goal in Cortland’s 9-2 SUNYAC championship win over Plattsburgh State. Slavik is ranked first in the league with 3.33 points per game in conference play and second with 1.83 assists per game. Slavik tallied 50 points overall during the season which includes 29 goals and 21 assists. Joe was formerly named the 2011 SUNYAC Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year. Slavik previously attended Seton Catholic and is from Binghamton, NY.
Rookie of the Year: Zachary Hopps (Cortland)
Zachary Hopps has been named the 2013 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year. Hopps is a freshman attack for Cortland who led the conference in assists per game with 36, averaging 2.12 for 17 games. He leads the conference in points per game. He has 61 points total, averaging 3.59 per game. Hopps has played in every game so far this season for Cortland. In Cortland’s 9-2 SUNYAC men’s lacrosse championship win over Plattsburgh State, Hopps contributed one goal, two assists, and one groundball. Zach is one of only two SUNYAC lacrosse athletes that made it into the NCAA’s Division III top 50 national assist leaders, ranked 40th. Hopps is from Akwesasne, NY and attended Massena High School.
Coach of the Year: Ryan Cavanagh (Plattsburgh)
Ryan Cavanagh has been selected the 2013 SUNYAC Coach of the Year. Cavanagh completed his second season as Plattsburgh State head men’s lacrosse coach. He previously served three seasons as Plattsburgh’s top assistant coach and a student assistant coach during the 2008 season.
This season, Plattsburgh had a 5-1 conference record and a 14-4 overall record. Plattsburgh advanced to the SUNYAC finals, but lost to Cortland. The Cardinals were second in the conference with goals per game, averaging 12.06 per game. Plattsburgh led the conference with shots per game averaging 46.61 shots per game. The Cardinals had one of the strongest defenses in the league, causing 11.06 turnovers per game. They were second in goals against average defensive category (7.03) and led in the saves percentage category with .544. Cavanagh coached two of his athletes onto the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. Gordie Gehring and Nick Parrella were both given all-tournament honors. He also had a variety of his athletes make the SUNYAC All-Conference Team. Four of his players were on the first team, two on the second team, and one was given honorable mention.
Cavanagh is also known for building the programs Long Island recruiting base during his time at Plattsburgh. Another one of his accomplishments as the Cardinals’ head coach include receiving the SUNY Plattsburgh Vision Award for Community. He received the award in 2010 as the top assistant coach. The Cardinals have raised over $21,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation under his leadership.
Joe May, Larry Allen, and Jared Burns assist Cavanagh with Plattsburgh State’s men’s lacrosse coaching duties.
2013 Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Team
Player of the Year: Joe Slavik (Cortland)
Joe Slavik has been named the Men's Lacrosse SUNYAC Player of the Year after leading the Cortland Red Dragons to its sixth-straight conference title. Slavik added one groundball and one goal in Cortland’s 9-2 SUNYAC championship win over Plattsburgh State. Slavik is ranked first in the league with 3.33 points per game in conference play and second with 1.83 assists per game. Slavik tallied 50 points overall during the season which includes 29 goals and 21 assists. Joe was formerly named the 2011 SUNYAC Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year. Slavik previously attended Seton Catholic and is from Binghamton, NY.
Rookie of the Year: Zachary Hopps (Cortland)
Zachary Hopps has been named the 2013 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year. Hopps is a freshman attack for Cortland who led the conference in assists per game with 36, averaging 2.12 for 17 games. He leads the conference in points per game. He has 61 points total, averaging 3.59 per game. Hopps has played in every game so far this season for Cortland. In Cortland’s 9-2 SUNYAC men’s lacrosse championship win over Plattsburgh State, Hopps contributed one goal, two assists, and one groundball. Zach is one of only two SUNYAC lacrosse athletes that made it into the NCAA’s Division III top 50 national assist leaders, ranked 40th. Hopps is from Akwesasne, NY and attended Massena High School.
Coach of the Year: Ryan Cavanagh (Plattsburgh)
Ryan Cavanagh has been selected the 2013 SUNYAC Coach of the Year. Cavanagh completed his second season as Plattsburgh State head men’s lacrosse coach. He previously served three seasons as Plattsburgh’s top assistant coach and a student assistant coach during the 2008 season.
This season, Plattsburgh had a 5-1 conference record and a 14-4 overall record. Plattsburgh advanced to the SUNYAC finals, but lost to Cortland. The Cardinals were second in the conference with goals per game, averaging 12.06 per game. Plattsburgh led the conference with shots per game averaging 46.61 shots per game. The Cardinals had one of the strongest defenses in the league, causing 11.06 turnovers per game. They were second in goals against average defensive category (7.03) and led in the saves percentage category with .544. Cavanagh coached two of his athletes onto the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. Gordie Gehring and Nick Parrella were both given all-tournament honors. He also had a variety of his athletes make the SUNYAC All-Conference Team. Four of his players were on the first team, two on the second team, and one was given honorable mention.
Cavanagh is also known for building the programs Long Island recruiting base during his time at Plattsburgh. Another one of his accomplishments as the Cardinals’ head coach include receiving the SUNY Plattsburgh Vision Award for Community. He received the award in 2010 as the top assistant coach. The Cardinals have raised over $21,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation under his leadership.
Joe May, Larry Allen, and Jared Burns assist Cavanagh with Plattsburgh State’s men’s lacrosse coaching duties.
2013 Men's Lacrosse All-Conference Team
