CAPE COD, Mass. – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team was recognized for its academic performance as it had a conference-best eight student-athletes named to the 2009 All- Eastern College Athletic Conference Academic team, ECAC Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced Tuesday.
Scarlet Knights Taylor Bottar (Syracuse, N.Y.), Hunter Burnard (Binghamton, N.Y.), Adam Goldberg (Fayetteville, N.Y.), Sean Hover (Belle Mead, N.J.), Billy Olin (Horseheads, N.Y.), Jeff Rommel (Syracuse, N.Y.), Brian Shemesh (Hillsborough, N.J.) and Steven Watson (Belle Mead, N.J.) were named to the team.
“It says a great deal about the quality of student-athletes we have in the program to be honored with eight ECAC Academic team members,” said Rutgers head men’s lacrosse coach Jim Stagnitta. “I am extremely proud of the academic accomplishments of this group and pleased that they have been honored for their efforts in the classroom.”
Senior Rommel and juniors Bottar and Olin were selected to the squad for the second straight year as the honor was a first for the five other Scarlet Knights.
In order to be selected to the team, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average through at least four semesters of work at his current institution, be a significant contributor to his team and have participated in at least 50 percent of the games (33 percent of the minutes for goalies).
Midfielder Bottar, a civil engineering major, notched seven points in 14 games while boasting a 3.50 GPA.
Junior midfielder Burnard played in all 15 games, including 12 starts, and posted 12 points while maintaining a 3.30 GPA in exercise science & sport studies.
Junior attackman Goldberg, a management major, participated in 11 games with three starts while holding a 3.52 GPA.
Junior defender Hover saw action in 12 games while boasting a 3.61 GPA in marketing.
Goalie Olin started in 10 of the 13 games he participated in and led the team with 103 saves while posting a 3.56 GPA in history.
Attackman Rommel, an accounting major, played in 15 games with 11 starts and notched 18 points while boasting a team-best 3.83 GPA.
Sophomore defender Shemesh tied for fifth on the team in groundballs with 25 and held a 3.27 GPA in history.
Sophomore midfielder Watson, a political science major, competed in all 15 games and held a 3.47 GPA.
2009 was the last season the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team served as a member of the ECAC as it will join the BIG EAST Conference in 2010. Joining Rutgers in the league next season are Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John’s, 2009 NCAA Champion Syracuse and Villanova. The teams will play a six-game single round-robin regular season schedule. The BIG EAST will apply for an automatic bid to the 16-team NCAA Championship field.
2009 All-ECAC Academic Team (Rutgers Student-Athletes)
Name CL. Pos. G.P.A Major
Taylor Bottar Jr. M 3.50 Civil Engineering
Hunter Burnard Jr. M 3.30 Exercise Science & Sport Studies
Adam Goldberg Jr. A 3.52 Management
Sean Hover Jr. D 3.61 Marketing
William Olin Jr. G 3.56 History
Jeff Rommel Sr. A 3.83 Accounting
Brian Shemesh So. D 3.27 History
Steven Watson So. M 3.47 Political Science
