BOSTON - The bracket for the 2015 America East Men's Lacrosse Championship was set over the weekend with Vermont and Hartford clinching the final two tournament bids to join nationally-ranked teams Albany and Stony Brook in the field. The championship takes place April 30-May 1 at Albany's Bob Ford Field. Second-seeded Stony Brook battles third-seeded Vermont in Thursday's first semifinal at 4:30 while regular-season and top-seeded Albany faced fourth-seeded Hartford in the second semi at 7 p.m.. Read about last week's games, league notes and the final weekly award winners of the 2015 season:
Player of the Week
Mike Rooney, Stony Brook - Sr., Attack, East Islip, N.Y.
- Factored in on seven of Stony Brook's nine goals in a 9-8 overtime win over Hartford Friday.
- Racked up four goals and three assists for seven points.
- Led the Seawolves back from an 8-4 halftime deficit.
- The win locked up the No. 2 seed in the America East Championship for the Seawolves.
- This is Rooney's fifth honor of the season.
Rookie of the WeekConnor Fields, Albany - Fr., Attack, Buffalo, N.Y.
- Had seven goals and an assist while on seeing five quarters worth of action in two Albany wins.
- Scored twice and had an assist in a 23-7 victory at Siena Tuesday.
- Found the back of the cage five times in a 22-9 over UMBC Saturday.
- This is his fifth award of the season.
Notes
- #1 Albany, #2 Stony Brook, #3 Vermont and #4 Hartford will play for the 2015 America East men's lacrosse title April 30-May 1 at Albany's Bob Ford Field.
- The Seawolves and Catamounts square off in the first semifinal Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
- The Great Danes and Hawks battle in the second semifinal in the second semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m.
- The two winners will meet in the championship game Saturday at 10 a.m. on ESPNU.
- Albany and Stony Brook are both nationally ranked with the Great Danes hanging at 7th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll and the Seawolves moving up to 16th.
- The Great Danes secured their third-straight outright America East regular-season title with a 20-9 win over UMBC.
- Albany has won 20 consecutive games against America East foes.
- Stony Brook sealed up the No. 2 seed, its best since 2012, with a 9-8 overtime win at Hartford Saturday.
- The Seawolves' 12 wins are their most since 2010 and second-most in in its Division I program history.
- Ian MacKay scored five times to lead Vermont to a 14-13 win over Binghamton Saturday.
- Vermont is in the tournament for the first time since 2010 and just the fourth time all-time.
- The four conference wins and No. 3 seed are program-bests for Vermont.
- Hartford is in the tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.
- Lyle Thompson was named a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award Thursday.
- Thompson and Stony Brook's Mike Rooney rank first and second nationally in points per game.
- Brody Eastwood ranks third averaging 3.7 goals per game.
- Albany leads the country averaging 17.3 goals per game.
Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 9 - Player of the Week: Challen Rogers, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Brandon Maciejewski, Stony Brook
Feb. 16 - Player of the Week: Nate Lewnes, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Cory Highfield, UMass Lowell
Feb. 23 - Player of the Week: Blaze Riorden; Rookie of the Week: Connor Fields, Albany
March 2 - Co-Players of the Week: Connor Gordon, UMBC & Mike Rooney, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Ryan Vanderford, Hartford
March 9 - Co-Players of the Week: Blaze Riorden, Albany & Mike Rooney, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Sean Tyrrell, UMass Lowell
March 16 - Player of the Week: Lyle Thompson, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Connor Fields, Albany
March 23 - Player of the Week: Cam Milligan, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Connor Fields, Albany
March 30 - Co-Players of the Week: Lyle Thompson, Albany & Mike Rooney, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Connor Fields, Albany
April 6 - Player of the Week: Brody Eastwood, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Ryan Vanderford, Hartford
April 13 - Co-Players of the Week: Brody Eastwood, Stony Brook & Justin Rosenberg, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Ryan Vanderford, Hartford
April 20 - Co-Players of the Week: Blaze Riorden, Albany & Mike Rooney, Stony Brook, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Ryan Vanderford, Hartford
April 27 - Player of the Week: Mike Rooney, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Connor Fields, Albany