Mid-Season Lacrosse All Americans

Inside Lacrosse released its mid-season All America list this week. Unfortunately they decided to follow the Big East formula for putting waaaayyy too many players on an All America team. Over here we like to actually follow rules of the game, and put 10 guys on the team - with three "specialists" coming off the bench. Take a look at both teams, and let me know if you disagree with any of the selections in the comments.

First Team

Jeremy Boltus – A, Army

Steele Stanwick – A, Virginia

Rob Pannel – A, Cornell

Kevin Crowley – M, Stony Brook

Jovan Miller – M, Syracuse

John Ranagan – M, Johns Hopkins

John Lade – D, Syracuse

Kevin Ridgway – D, Notre Dame

Tucker Durkin – D, Johns Hopkins

Pierce Basset – G, Johns Hopkins

Specialists

Brian Karalunas – LSM, Villanova

Matt Dolente – FO, Johns Hopkins

Kevin Drew – SSD, Syracuse

First team analysis

The three attacks are pretty easy to decide. These guys score in multiple ways with great vision and passing and all three can finish. Easy call here.

In the midfield, Crowley is another easy choice with all he does for Stony Brook. Miller and Ranagan have both led their teams to top five rankings midway through the season.

On defense, having star defenders from SU, Notre Dame and Hopkins makes sense, as they are probably the three most talented defensive units. Lade is the best in the country, with or without my Syracuse bias.

As much as I want to put Galloway here, Basset has been better for Hopkins this year. He’s third in the country in GAA (6.17) and third in the country in save percentage (.634).

It’s tough to leave Joel White off the first team, but Brian Karalunas is simply having a remarkable season. He causes 4.6 turnovers per game and picks up 4.1 ground balls per game. He’s the best. Kevin Drew has replaced Matt Abbott as the one-man clear for SU, racking up 14 ground balls and not turning the ball over once this year as a terrific short stick defender.

Second Team

Mark Matthews – A, Denver

Kevin Cunningham – A, Villanova

Nicky Galasso – A, North Carolina

Jeremy Thompson – M, Syracuse

Rhamel Bratton – M, Virginia

Peter Baum – M, Colgate

Brian Megill – D, Syracuse

Max Feely – D, Cornell

Tom Montelli – D, Duke

John Galloway – G, Syracuse

Specialists

Joel White – LSM, Syracuse

Adam Rand – FO, Stony Brook

Jamie MacDonald – SSD, Denver

Second Team Analysis

My second team looks a lot like Inside Lacrosse’s second team, but with a few notable exceptions. I have Rhamel, instead of Shamel, representing the Brattons on the team. Shamel scores the goals, but Rhamel is more of a complete player at this stage, racking up 23 ground balls and causing 10 turnovers, to go with his 16 points.

Brian Megill also makes an appearance on the second team. The sophomore leads Syracuse’s defense with 1.75 turnovers caused per game and is becoming a stud next to Lade.