LANCASTER, Pa. – On the heels of leading the Ursinus College men's lacrosse team to its first Centennial Conference championship, six Bears were regaled with All-CC awards.
Sophomore attack Bobby McClure and junior midfielder Evan Scott were named to the second team, while senior attack Peter DeSimone, senior defenseman Alex Middleman, junior defenseman Nolan Sachs, and sophomore attack Hakan Atillasoy received honorable mention.
First-year boss Gary Mercadante was honored as coach of the year following a remarkable turnaround campaign that has the Bears hosting a second-round NCAA Tournament game.
McClure has put in the most prolific offense campaign in program history, establishing school records for goals (56) and points (75) to rank fourth in the conference in both categories. The junior has scored at least three goals in all but three games, including a pair of six-goal, two-assist efforts in wins over Eastern and McDaniel. A first-time All-CC pick, McClure already ranks second all-time at Ursinus in goals and fourth in points.
Scott moves up to the second team after an honorable mention nod a year ago. One of the most athletic midfielders around, he has expanded his attacking prowess this season with career highs in goals (10) and points (16) while grabbing 27 ground balls and six caused turnovers.
DeSimone has taken his place atop the program's all-time charts in both goals (121) and points (184) after racking up 38 goals and 23 assists during the regular season before succumbing to injury in the finale against Dickinson. The senior put up some gaudy numbers this year, including a six-assist performance in the opener at Stevenson and a seven-goal outburst in an overtime victory at F&M. DeSimone tallied at least three points in 11 of his 14 games and also picked up 32 ground balls to go over 100 for his career. The 2016 CC rookie of the year, DeSimone is a three-time all-conference selection.
Atillasoy makes his first All-CC squad on the strength of a meteoric campaign that ranks second only to McClure in terms of production in school history. Ranking seventh in the league in goals (50) and points (72), Atillasoy is already just seven points shy of the century mark for his career. The sophomore has registered at least one goal and at least one assist in all but one game this year, the only exception being when he poured in a school-record nine goals in a win at Muhlenberg. Atillasoy has posted at least three points in every game but one.
Middleman became a starter for the first time in 2019 and has taken full advantage, developing into a shutdown defenseman in a league full of offensive stars. The senior sits third in the CC with 27 caused turnovers, and his 35 ground balls are good for fourth on the team. Middleman also notched his first career point with an assist in the overtime victory at F&M.
Sachs has started all but two games for his career and continues to ascend as one of the league's best defensive players. He has racked up 42 ground balls (third on the team) and 21 caused turnovers (second), even recording an assist in a 10-9, double-overtime triumph at Mary Washington back on February 23.
Mercadante is the second coach in school history to garner coach of the year honors, and the first to do so in his first season. The new boss' steady leadership has played a huge role in leading the Bears to unprecedented heights.
Senior Andrew Tourlitits was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team. Tourlitits has appeared in four games this season, and in 12 for his career.