June 19, 2002

Duke's Kevin Cassese has been named the recipient of the Lt. Donald McLaughlin Jr. Award as the nation's top midfielder as announced by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).

Cassese becomes the second Duke player to earn the honor as Jim Gonnella received the award in 1997.

A junior midfielder from Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., Cassese was a first team All-America selection in 2002 after leading Duke to an 8-7 record, the ACC Championship and a quarterfinal berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devil co-captain led the ACC in both face-off percentage (.647) and ground balls per game (5.67) while his face-off percentage also ranked third nationally.

Cassese paced Duke in goals scored with 25 while adding 12 assists. He is a member of the U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team that will represent the United States in the 2002 International Lacrosse Federation World Championship on July 6-14 in Perth, Australia.

As a sophomore in 2001, Cassese was a second team All-America pick and ACC Player of the Year honoree after totaling 23 goals and 14 assists.