When the 2010 FIL World Lacrosse Championships begin on Thursday at the University of Manchester in England, several participants with America East affiliations will help decide the outcome. In fact, there will be 11 with league ties at the tournament, a group that combined to win five America East Player of the Year awards, a Coach of the Year honor and racked up 19 all-conference citations.
The biggest factor in the tournament from America East could well be former UMBC standout Brendan Mundorf. The America East Player of the Year in 2005 and '06, Mundorf will try to lead Team USA to its first world title since 2002. He ranks fifth among Major League Lacrosse leaders with 33 points and last week scored six goals and earned MVP honors for his national squad in a tune up against Major League Lacrosse All-Stars.
Mundorf will be joined by fellow Retriever, Drew Westervelt, who also ranks among MLL leaders with 23 points and 16 goals. Westervelt was a three-time All-America East selection, earning second-team honors in 2005 and '06 and receiving first-team recognition in 2007.
The UMBC tandem will be coached by reigning America East Coach of the Year Rick Sowell, who led Stony Brook to a school-record 13 wins and an NCAA quarterfinal appearance in 2010. Sowell will assist Bryant University head coach Mike Pressler.
Several of Sowell's players will also be in Manchester for the tournament, which will take place July 15-24. Few in college lacrosse have received more accolades this season than the Sowell's senior midfielder Kevin Crowley. The 2010 America East Player of the Year, Crowley, will suit up for Team Canada. The Raymond J. Enners Award winner and a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist was also tabbed the America East Scholar-Athlete in men's lacrosse July 13.
Joining Crowley on team Canada will be 2007 Stony Brook graduate Rhys Duch, Corey Small, a 2009 Albany alum, and John Grant, Jr., the 1999 America East Player of the Year. Duch, who currently plays for Washington in the National Lacrosse League, was a two-time All-America East selection while at Stony Brook. Small, who plays for Toronto in the MLL and Edmonton in the NLL, was a two-time All-America East choice for the Great Danes and helped them win three conference titles. Grant, also a two-time all-league honoree for Delaware, still holds single-season records in points (106) and assists (54).
Two other Seawolves, Jordan McBride and Greg Miceli, will represents Scotland and Italy, respectively. McBride, a three-time first-team all-league choice and three-time All-American, scored 48 goals and became the program's all-time leading scorer during his junior season. Miceli, a sophomore defender, has played in 24 career games and has 31 groundballs.
Team England will feature two conference affilations. Jak Wawrzyniak, an incoming freshman for Stony Brook, will be the youngest member of his squad after playing for the U19 team at the 2008 World Championships. Tom Wilmot, a 2007 first-team all-conference selection from Binghamton, will also suit up for the English.
Finally, Sean Chamberlain, who totaled 55 goals while at Stony Brook from 2004-07, will serve as an assistant for Team Poland.
The World Championships get underway July 15 when England hosts Iroquois Nation. Canada, Italy, Poland and the United States begin July 16.