May 28, 2002

Duke junior midfielder Kevin Cassese has been named First Team All-America by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).

Cassese was recognized along with teammates Dan Hauber and A.J. Kincel, who both were named honorable mention All-America by the organization.

The first team included attackmen Mike Powell and Josh Coffman of Syracuse and Steve Dusseau of Georgetown, midfielders Cassese, Kyle Sweeney of Georgetown, Chris Rotelli of Virginia and Adam Doneger of Johns Hopkins, defensmen John Glatzel of Syracuse, Nick Polanco of Hofstra and Ryan McClay of Cornell along with goalkeeper Nick Murtha of Johns Hopkins.

A second team All-America pick in 2001, Cassese led the ACC in both face-off percentage (.647) and ground balls (85) while ranking among the league's top 10 in both points and goals. The Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., native finished the year second on the team in scoring with 37 points on 25 goals and 12 assists.

Hauber, a senior defenseman from Gaithersburg, Md., and Kincel, a senior goalie from Palymyra, Va., spearheaded Duke's defense in 2002. Hauber, an ACC All-Tournament Team choice, finished the year with 32 ground balls while Kincel, the ACC Tournament MVP, recorded 185 saves and an 8.55 goals against average for the season.

Cassese, Hauber and Kincel guided Duke to an 8-7 overall record, the 2002 ACC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Quarterfinals where the Blue Devils suffered a 10-9 loss to eventual national champion Syracuse.

The 2002 USILA All-America Team
First Team
Attack 
Mike Powell, Syracuse
Steve Dusseau, Georgetown
Josh Coffman, Syracuse

Midfield
Kevin Cassese, Duke
Kyle Sweeney, Georgetown
Chris Rotelli, Virginia
Adam Doneger, Johns Hopkins

Defense 
John Glatzel, Syracuse
Nick Polanco, Hofstra
Ryan McClay, Cornell

Goalie 
Nick Murtha, Johns Hopkins
 

Second Team
Attack 
Tom Kessler, Hofstra
Ryan Boyle, Princeton
Conor Gill, Virginia

Midfield 
Spencer Wright, Syracuse
Kevin Leveille, Massachusetts
Mike Mollot, Maryland
Brad Dumont, Princeton

Defense 
Michael Howley, Maryland
Mark Koontz, Virginia
Damien Davis, Princeton

Goalie
Justin Cynar, Cornell


Third Team
Attack 
Bobby Benson, Johns Hopkins
John Christmas, Virginia
B.J. Prager, Princeton

Midfield 
Galen Beers, Cornell
Chas Gessner, Brown
Kevin Boland, Johns Hopkins
Jim Mormile, Brown

Defense 
Chris Passavia, Maryland
Matt McFarland, Massachusetts
Peter DiConza, Johns Hopkins

Goalie 
Scott Schroeder, Georgetown


Honorable Mention
Attack
Tim Pearson, Army
Mike Springer, Syracuse
Brad Reppert, Towson
Stephen Brundage, Loyola
Will Driscoll, Penn State
Michael Sullivan, Loyola
Marc Morley, UMass
Dan LaMonica, Maryland
Kevin Pall, Stony Brook

Midfield
Brian Solliday, Syracuse
A.J. Shannon, Virginia
Paul Rao, Hofstra
Rob Bateman, Penn State
Nate Watkins, Maryland
Owen Daly, Princeton
Austin Garrison, North Carolina
Marco Lujic, Yale
Kyle Baugher, Princeton
Dan Cocchi, Towson
Trevor Walker, Georgetown
Chris Fiore, UMass
Greg Conklin, Navy

Defense
Dan Hauber, Duke
Mike Stromberg, Loyola
Scott Farrell, Princeton
Mike Peyser, Johns Hopkins
Solomon Bliss, Syracuse
Scott Marimow, Penn
Kevin Smithies, Bucknell
Bill St. George, Syracuse
Brant Gresham, Georgetown
Anthony Wright, Notre Dame

Goalie
A.J. Kincel, Duke
Mike Levin, Brown
Tillman Johnson, Virginia
C.J. Kemp, Fairfield
Dan McCormick, Maryland