NEW PALTZ, NY — The honors continued on Thursday for SUNY New Paltz men’s soccer standout Mario Lavacca (Port Washington, NY — Paul D. Schreiber) who was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-New York Region Second Team.
Last month, Lavacca became the first men’s soccer player in the history of the program to receive the Huntley Parker Award honoring the Player of the Year in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). He finished third in the conference in scoring with a career-best 14 goals and 29 points to pick up First Team all-conference honors as well.
Lavacca helped lead the Hawks to their first SUNYAC Tournament appearance since 1987. New Paltz, who went 6-8-2 overall and 4-4-1 in the SUNYAC, finished sixth in the conference and earned the sixth and final seed in the league’s post-season tournament. The Hawks suffered a 3-0 loss to third-seeded Cortland in the opening round of the tournament in Cortland, NY.
It’s Lavacca’s second appearance on the NSCAA All-New York Region squad. As a sophomore in 2001 he was named to the Second Team after scoring a team-best 21 points (9 goals, 3 assists).
The senior forward wrapped up a brilliant four-year career in the fall with 95 points on 44 goals and seven assists.
