May 31, 2004

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior attackman Jed Prossner and senior defenseman Ronnie Staines were named Monday as first-team All-Americas by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, the first Tar Heels named to the first team All-America since 1996. Junior Bryant Will was named a second-team All-America and three more Tar Heels were named honorable mention choices.

The honorable mention selections were senior midfielder Kevin Frew, sophomore defenseman Stephen McElduff and junior goalkeeper Paul Spellman.

Prossner, from Easton, Md., led the Tar Heels in scoring for the third straight years and he ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in both goals and points per game. He had 41 goals and 15 assists for 56 points. The 41 goals were the fifth most in a season in Tar Heel history.

Staines (Severna Park, Md.), one of the standout defensemen in Tar Heel history, captained the North Carolina team and he led a defense that allowed only 8.78 goals per game in 2004.

Will (Phoenix, Md.) was joined on the 2004 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team by both Prossner and Staines. Will was UNC's top scorer in the midfield as he had 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points. His 19 assists led Carolina and his 34 points tied for third on the team.

Frew, from Baldwin, Md., led the nation in ground balls per game in 2004 and also ranked among the nation's leaders in faceoff percentage. He finished his career as the Tar Heels' top producer in faceoffs won. He won a UNC season record 219 faceoffs this season out of 334 for a winning percentage of .656. His 143 ground balls were the second most in a season in UNC history behind only the 160 claimed by Jude Collins in 1996.

McElduff (Yorktown, N.Y.) is the youngest of the Tar Heel players to earn All-America honors in 2004. He teamed with Staines and senior Matt Pessagno to form one of the top close defenses in the nation.

Spellman (Cockeysville, Md.) was one of the country's top netminders. He finished the year with 180 saves while allowing 122 goals, a save percentage of .596. He had a 10-5 record as UNC's starting goalkeeper and an 8.48 goals against average.