Chick and Gaffney named USILA All-Americans
5/23/2019 11:28:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After being named Inside Lacrosse Media All-Americans earlier this month, senior Craig Chick and junior Conor Gaffney added additional awards to their resume on Thursday as both were named USILA All-Americans. Chick was named to the second team while Gaffney garnered honorable-mention laurels. Chick became Lehigh's highest USILA All-American in 93 years, since Hugh Robinson was named to the second team in 1926.
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Chick is a two-time second team Media All-American (as a junior and senior), but prior to this season, Chick had previously only received honorable mention recognition by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.
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In head coach Kevin Cassese's 12 seasons at Lehigh, Chick is the highest USILA All-American. Roman Lao-Gosney and Ty Souders were both named third team All-Americans in 2012, while there have been 10 other honorable mention honorees.
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One of three Lehigh seniors named to the USILA North-South All-Star Game to be played on Friday, Chick posted 42 caused turnovers this season, breaking his school record for a third straight year and breaking the all-time NCAA record for his career – finishing with 160. As a freshman, Chick had 37 to lead the nation, going on to post a program-record 40, 41 then 42 over the next three seasons. In the Patriot League Championship Game vs. Army West Point, Chick had three caused turnovers to break the previous mark of 158 held by Detroit's Jordan Houtby. Chick caused 16 turnovers over the final four games of his career. He was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week three times during the season and at the end of the regular season, was named first team All-League for a third straight year. One of his many highlights came at No. 15 Rutgers when he caused a turnover defensively, which led to him scoring a goal on the other end just moments later, sparking Lehigh's 8-2 run to end the game for a thrilling 13-10 victory. His 2.47 caused turnovers per game in 2019 are good for third in the nation. Chick was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team. He was selected by the Dallas Rattlers in the second round of the Major League Lacrosse Draft, and recently signed with the Rattlers.
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Gaffney ended a historic 2019 season as the program and Patriot League all-time leader for faceoff wins (249), faceoff percentage (69.7) and groundballs (152) in a season. That faceoff percentage is good for fourth nationally. Also in 2019, he tied his own school record for groundballs in a game (16) while becoming the program's and Patriot League all-time leader for career groundballs (currently 349), this with one season still remaining. Gaffney showed remarkable consistency in 2019, winning 60 percent or more of his faceoffs in 15-of-17 games. Gaffney won 33-of-44 faceoffs in the Patriot League Tournament, including 18-of-22 (13 straight to end the game) in the championship contest vs. Army West Point. Gaffney scored a big goal in the 10-9 semifinal victory over Boston University, scoring just six seconds after the Terriers netted their third straight goal to take a 5-4 lead. Like Chick, Gaffney was named to the All-Tournament Team. He also excels in the classroom, owning a 3.99 cumulative GPA as a Mechanical Engineering and Finance major. The two-time Scholar-Athlete of the Year and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree was named Faceoff Specialist of the Week three times this season.
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Lehigh ended 2019 with a 9-8 record, advancing to its second straight Patriot League Championship Game and fifth in the last eight years. Despite facing several significant injuries, including to key players, the Mountain Hawks battled and went on to beat three nationally-ranked opponents and give themselves a chance until the very end.
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Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.Â
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Chick is a two-time second team Media All-American (as a junior and senior), but prior to this season, Chick had previously only received honorable mention recognition by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.
Â
In head coach Kevin Cassese's 12 seasons at Lehigh, Chick is the highest USILA All-American. Roman Lao-Gosney and Ty Souders were both named third team All-Americans in 2012, while there have been 10 other honorable mention honorees.
Â
One of three Lehigh seniors named to the USILA North-South All-Star Game to be played on Friday, Chick posted 42 caused turnovers this season, breaking his school record for a third straight year and breaking the all-time NCAA record for his career – finishing with 160. As a freshman, Chick had 37 to lead the nation, going on to post a program-record 40, 41 then 42 over the next three seasons. In the Patriot League Championship Game vs. Army West Point, Chick had three caused turnovers to break the previous mark of 158 held by Detroit's Jordan Houtby. Chick caused 16 turnovers over the final four games of his career. He was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week three times during the season and at the end of the regular season, was named first team All-League for a third straight year. One of his many highlights came at No. 15 Rutgers when he caused a turnover defensively, which led to him scoring a goal on the other end just moments later, sparking Lehigh's 8-2 run to end the game for a thrilling 13-10 victory. His 2.47 caused turnovers per game in 2019 are good for third in the nation. Chick was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team. He was selected by the Dallas Rattlers in the second round of the Major League Lacrosse Draft, and recently signed with the Rattlers.
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Gaffney ended a historic 2019 season as the program and Patriot League all-time leader for faceoff wins (249), faceoff percentage (69.7) and groundballs (152) in a season. That faceoff percentage is good for fourth nationally. Also in 2019, he tied his own school record for groundballs in a game (16) while becoming the program's and Patriot League all-time leader for career groundballs (currently 349), this with one season still remaining. Gaffney showed remarkable consistency in 2019, winning 60 percent or more of his faceoffs in 15-of-17 games. Gaffney won 33-of-44 faceoffs in the Patriot League Tournament, including 18-of-22 (13 straight to end the game) in the championship contest vs. Army West Point. Gaffney scored a big goal in the 10-9 semifinal victory over Boston University, scoring just six seconds after the Terriers netted their third straight goal to take a 5-4 lead. Like Chick, Gaffney was named to the All-Tournament Team. He also excels in the classroom, owning a 3.99 cumulative GPA as a Mechanical Engineering and Finance major. The two-time Scholar-Athlete of the Year and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree was named Faceoff Specialist of the Week three times this season.
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Lehigh ended 2019 with a 9-8 record, advancing to its second straight Patriot League Championship Game and fifth in the last eight years. Despite facing several significant injuries, including to key players, the Mountain Hawks battled and went on to beat three nationally-ranked opponents and give themselves a chance until the very end.
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Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.Â
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