Pair of Falcons Named to Preseason All-ECAC Team
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Dec. 8, 2009
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CAPE COD, Mass. -
Two Air Force lacrosse players were named to the 2010 Preseason All-ECAC team, as announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon. Brothers Bryan and Dayton Gilbreath, who were both All-Great Western Lacrosse League honorees in 2009, earn the honor in the Falcons' first season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League.
The Gilbreath brothers, who hail from Bainbridge Island, Wash., continue to be key components of the Falcons' defensive unit. Bryan, a junior long-stick midfielder, proved to be one of the most talented long poles in the nation last season, contributing on both offense and defense. He led the nation in scoring by an LSM/defenseman in 2009, registering 13 points on the season (11g, 2a), while also ranking third on the team in ground balls with 44. As a result, he was named to the All-GWLL second team at the long-stick midfield position (behind teammate Dan Gnazzo).
Meanwhile, Dayton, who was named an honorable mention preseason All-American in the 2010 Inside Lacrosse/Face-Off Yearbook, was recognized as the GWLL Newcomer of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection on defense in 2009. He earned his spot in Air Force's starting lineup during his rookie campaign as the Falcons' top cover guy. In addition to helping shut down the opponents' top scorers, Dayton finished the season ranked third on the team in caused turnovers (13) and also scored two points (1g, 1a), including the game-winning goal versus Quinnipiac.
In addition to naming the all-conference team, which included athletes from five of the league's eight schools, the ECAC Lacrosse League announced its major preseason awards as well. Loyola's Cooper MacDonnell was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Denver's Dillon Roy was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, Chase Carraro, also from Denver, earned preseason Rookie of the Year honors.
Also released Tuesday by the league were the preseason conference rankings, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Loyola, the two-time defending league champion, was chosen to win the 2010 ECAC Lacrosse League title with 47 points in the balloting, including six first-place votes. Denver took second place in the poll with 41 points and one first-place vote, just ahead of Ohio State, which garnered 40 points and the final first-place vote.
ECAC returners Fairfield (29 pts.) and Hobart (27 pts.) ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in the poll, followed by Air Force (20 pts.). Rounding out the final spots were Quinnipiac, with 12 points, and Bellarmine, with eight points.
Air Force begins the 2010 season on Feb. 27, when it hosts St. John's in a non-conference match-up.
2009 Preseason All-ECAC Team
A Mark Matthews, Denver So.
A Cooper MacDonnell, Loyola *# Sr.
A Mario Ventiquattro, Ohio State Sr.
M Charley Dickenson, Denver Sr.
M Tyler Cassell, Hobart * Sr.
M James Green, Ohio State Sr.
D Dayton Gilbreath, Air Force So.
D Dillon Roy, Denver Sr.
D Steve Layne, Loyola * Sr.
D Matt Kawamoto, Ohio State Jr.
Sp. Bryan Gilbreath, Air Force (LSM) Jr.
G Max Silberlicht, Hobart Sr.
* 2009 All-ECAC
# 2008 All-ECAC
Offensive Player of the Year
Cooper MacDonnell, Loyola Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year
Dillon Roy, Denver Sr.
Rookie of the Year
Chase Carraro, Denver Fr.
