2012 All-Hudson Valley boys lacrosse team

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Meet the athletes who excelled during the 2012 boys lacrosse season. The awards were selected by MSG Varsity's staff of reporters and editors.

MSG Varsity: Hudson Valley boys lacrosse awards

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Conor Gately, Yorktown

The phrase "he has eyes in the back of his head" might as well have been created for Yorktown attackman Conor Gately. The Marquette University-bound senior was the ultimate playmaker for the Huskers, racking up a team-high 116 points (37, 79A) to earn All-American and MSG Varsity All-Metro First Team honors. He was also the first Yorktown player since Mike McCall (2001) to crack 100 points in a season. Gately, who setup teammate Connor Vercruysse for the game-winning goal in overtime of the Section 1 Class B finals against John Jay-CR, graduates as the ninth all-time leading scorer in Yorktown history with 232 career points (70G, 162A). The wiry senior played an old-school brand of lacrosse, doing most of his damage from the X-position. Gately combined his quickness, smarts and vision to become Section 1's most deadly offensive weapon. 

COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Barnard, Mamaroneck

Coach Jeff Barnard helped Mamaroneck achieve history in 2012, leading the Tigers to their first-ever Section 1 title. Mamaroneck — which entered the Section 1 Class A playoffs on an eight-game losing streak — turned it around and got hot at the opportune time. The No. 10-seeded Tigers pulled off consecutive upsets over White Plains, Arlington, Suffern and defending champ Mahopac to cap the miraculous postseason run. Mamaroneck became the first southern Westchester team to win a Section 1 Class A title since White Plains did so way back in 1979. Barnard was named the U.S. Lax Coach of the Year for Section 1 and the Section 1 Class A Coach of the Year. With almost all of the key pieces from this year's roster returning in 2013, Barnard has a good shot of making lighting strike twice.

TEAM OF THE YEAR
Bronxville

While Bronxille's season once again ended in the NYS Class C semifinals, it was still a landmark year for a program on the rise. The Broncos, who won their second straight Section 1 Class C crown, finished up with an impressive record of 21-2. More importantly, they cemented themselves as an elite Section 1 power for years to come. Bronxville did so by securing program-defining wins over tradition-rich teams in Somers and Mahopac. Coach Tim Horgan returns the bulk of his star-studded roster, including starting goalie Eric Pass and All-American attackman Jack Grass, so the sky's the limit in 2013.

All-Hudson Valley: First team

Goalie: Thomas Branca, Sr., John Jay-CR — Fairfield University-bound stalwart was Section 1's most complete goalie, serving as the backbone of John Jay-CR's stingy zone defense. Branca, who had a save percentage of 66.5, averaged 12.11 saves a game and was particularly impressive in the biggest spots, evidenced by a season-high 20 saves against Yorktown in the Section 1 Class B finals. In addition, the all-section netminder recorded 12-plus saves in games against Manhasset, Mahopac, Ridgefield, New Canaan, Somers and Brewster. Branca's ability to throw precise outlet passes also led to many of the Indians' transition goals. 

Defense: Jack Lambert, Jr., John Jay-CR — University of North Carolina-bound long-stick middie was Section 1's best player in transition. With elite athleticism and unmatched stick skills, Lambert made a habit of intercepting passes to create fast-break opportunities. Despite playing a defensive position, the All-American standout was tied for sixth on the team in points with 13 (8G, 5A).

Defense: Matt Landis, Sr., Pelham — University of Notre Dame-bound senior was a physical presence for the Pelicans, spearheading a defense that relinquished just 5.72 goals a game. Landis, who was named All-American, was also selected to MSG Varsity's All-Metro Second Team.

Defense: Brendan Hynes, Jr., Mahopac — Standout long-stick middie had a breakout junior campaign, shutting down some of Section 1's premier offensive threats. Hynes, who proved to be a ground ball machine and a major offensive threat in transition, has drawn interest from UMass, Penn State, Rutgers, West Point and Drexel. He finished the year with 20 points (11G, 9A) and 154 ground balls.

Middie: Kevin McNally, Sr., Suffern — University at Albany-bound All-American was an offensive powerhouse, possessing all the skills to excel at both midfield and attack. Despite only playing in 12 games due to an ankle injury, McNally totaled 38 goals and 35 assists. He also won 73 percent of his faceoffs and averaged eight ground balls a game.

Middie: Chris Monteferante, Sr., Lakeland/Panas — West Point-bound All-American was easily Section 1's toughest, most versatile player. Monteferante, who bagged a total of 37 goals, did everything from taking faceoffs to playing attack. The four-year varsity player leaves as one of the program's most accomplished players. 

Middie: Frank Fusco, Sr., Yorktown — Drexel-bound All-American was the heart and soul of a Yorktown team that captured its record 35th Section 1 title. Fusco also proved to be selfless, switching from attack to midfield midway through the season to diversify the Huskers' offense. Possessing Section 1's most devastating shot, he finished the year third on the team in scoring with 59 points (48G, 11A).

Attack: Conor Gately, Sr., Yorktown — * Player of the Year *

Attack: Jack Grass, Jr., Bronxville — Johns Hopkins University-bound All-American was the engine to Bronxville's potent offense, racking up a team-high 99 points (54G, 45A). In just two years with the Broncos, Grass has already amassed an astounding (113G, 90A) 203 points.

Attack: Tom Cirillo, Sr., Eastchester — Salisbury University-bound attackman was a scoring machine, registering a team-high 75 goals in 2012. Cirillo, who scored seven-plus goals in five different games this season, also doled out 19 assists.

Second team

G: Kris Alleyne, Sr., Clarkstown South
D: Trevor Koelsch, Jr., Yorktown
D: Kevin Schurr, Sr., Somers
D: Harry Erikson, Sr., Brewster
MF: Brewster Warble, Jr., Bronxville
MF: Peter Conley, Jr., Mamaroneck
MF: Tom Beck, Jr., John Jay-CR
ATT: Nick Mariano, Jr., Yorktown
ATT: Matt Ferentini, Sr., John Jay-CR
ATT: Kevin Cousin, Sr., Somers

About the MSG Varsity All-Stars: The honorees were selected among public and private schools within the MSG Varsity coverage region, which includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and parts of Orange County.

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