LACROSSE CAPTAINS HENNESSEY AND MCALLISTER NAMED 2010 NEILA SENIOR SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

May 28, 2010

CAPTAINS HENNESSEY AND MCALLISTER NAMED 2010 NEILA SENIOR SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A pair of fifth-year seniors proved they could stand out on the field while still excelling in the classroom, as graduate students and 2010 Bryant men’s lacrosse captains Andrew Hennessey (Wading River, N.Y.) and Matt McAllister (East Quogue, N.Y.) were selected as 2010 NEILA Senior Scholar Athletes, as announced Thursday morning.

The Division I All-New England Senior Scholar-Athlete team recognizes graduating seniors who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and have also excelled on the field of play. The two Bulldogs join 20 other players from DI schools around New England, including Brown, Hartford, Harvard, UMass, Providence, Sacred Heart and Yale. Enrolled in Bryant’s graduate school, both Hennessey and McAllister are scheduled to graduate in August with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

On the field, these New Yorkers have been just as stellar as they are in the classroom. Hennessey leaves Bryant as the all-time leader in faceoff winning percentage and has led the Division I ranks in the category each of the last two seasons. He ranks second in Bulldog men’s lacrosse history with 345 career ground balls and owns four of the top-5 spots for single-season faceoff winning percentage, including the top two. Hennessey adds this honor to a long list of 2010 postseason accolades, including a Northeast Conference Second Team selection, All-New England First Team nod, USILA North/South Game choice and Bryant’s Male Athlete of the Year award.

McAllister leaves the program a two-year captain with 65 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers to his name, including picking up 17 ground balls and causing a career-high seven turnovers this season. He has appeared in 57 games over his four-year career and has four career tallies and five assists.

Bryant completed its second Division I season in 2010, posting a 12-5 overall record. The Bulldog men’s lacrosse program becomes eligible for an NCAA tournament bid in 2011.