Men’s Soccer Trio Named To All-SUNYAC Team

NEW PALTZ — For the second straight year, SUNY New Paltz has had three players selected for the All-SUNYAC team in men’s soccer.

Sophomore Tim Van Wyen was named to the Second Team, while freshmen John D’Eredita and Mario Lavacca were both Honorable Mention selections.

Lavacca was the Hawks’ leading scorer this season, with nine goals, five of which came in SUNYAC play. He had three goals in a 4-0 win over conference rival Utica/Rome on October 18, and collected three game-winning goals this season. He is a Port Washington, NY native and a 2000 graduate of P.D. Schreiber High.

Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley, NY native D’Eredita (one goal, two assists), finished fourth on the team in scoring, and last fall was a member of Arlington High’s New York State Class A Championship team. Van Wyen only had one assist offensively this season, but it was his defense that caught the attention of conference coaches.

New Paltz (6-13), which had started the year 0-6, won five of its last nine matches, including its first victory at SUNYAC rival Cortland since 1972. The Hawks’ 4-5 conference mark tied them with Brockport for the fifth-best record in the SUNYAC.