Men’s Lacrosse Sweeps Final CCC Weekly Awards of 2023
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 8, 2023) – After taking their second straight CCC Championship this weekend, the Western New England men's lacrosse team swept the final CCC Weekly Awards today, as announced by the conference office.
Dylan Hanley, the CCC Player of the Week, put on an offensive clinic in the 3-0 week, leading up the CCC Championship for the Golden Bears. The senior scored seven goals and added 18 assists, good for 25 total points on the week. Hanley began the CCC playoffs with three goals and six assists in a 24-9 win over the University of New England, scoring nine total points. Hanley scooped two ground balls while taking six shots, five on goal, in the win for WNE. The New Fairfield, Connecticut native went on to score twice while collecting an additional six assists in the 23-11 win over Salve Regina University in the CCC Semifinals. Hanley tallied eight points while taking five shots, four on goal in the win to send Western New England to their 12th straight CCC Finals appearance. Hanley helped WNE secure their second straight CCC Championship on Saturday afternoon at top seeded Endicott after scoring two goals and picking up six assists, good for eight total points on the afternoon, sending the Golden Bears to their 10th championship in program history. Hanley broke the single season points record as well as the single season assists record this season, collecting 48 goals and 67 assists, good for 115 points on the year.
First Year defenseman Jack Gara locked down the defensive side of the ball in the three playoff games for the Golden Bears, earning CCC Defensive Player of the Week. Gara scooped three ground balls and caused one turnover in the win over University of New England to set the pace for the Golden Bears. Gara collected five ground balls and caused two turnovers in the win over Salve Regina. The Madison, Connecticut native caused three turnovers and collected four ground balls in the win over Endicott College, sending Western New England to their second straight CCC Championship.
First Year Chris Catuosco picked up Rookie of the Week / Specialist of the Week for the blue and gold after continuing his dominance inside the faceoff circle. On the week, the first year went 40/75, a 53% success rate. The Commack, New York native also collected 28 ground balls in the wins while recording one assist, in the 23-11 win over Salve Regina. On the season, Catuosco won 200/320 faceoffs while collecting 133 ground balls, which is tops on WNE and third overall in the CCC.
Western New England men's lacrosse will travel to No. 17 Union College on Saturday, May 13 at 3:00 PM for the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Second Round game.
