University of North Carolina Athletics
Six Tar Heels Named USILA All-Americas
May 26, 2011 | Men's Lacrosse
May 26, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Six University of North Carolina men's lacrosse players, the highest total since 2004, have been named to the 2011 U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-America Teams which were announced Thursday. Seniors Billy Bitter and Ryan Flanagan led the Tar Heel choices with second-team accolades at attack and defense, respectively.
A pair of freshmen -- Nicky Galasso and R.G. Keenan -- copped third-team honors at attack and face-off, while junior Jimmy Dunster and sophomore Marcus Holman, both midfielders, were named honorable mention.
This marked the third straight year Bitter (Manhasset, N.Y.) earned All-America honors. He was named first team in 2009 and 2010 as well. He was Carolina's leading goal scorer in 2010 with 25 and was second on the team in assists with 14 and points with 39. He finished his UNC career with 99 goals and was in the top 10 all-time at Carolina in points, goals and assists.
Flanagan, from West Islip, N.Y., is also a three-time All-America, having been named first-team last year and third-team in 2009. The leader of the Tar Heel defense, he paced the Tar Heels in caused turnovers with 29 and was second in ground balls with 44, as Carolina limited opponents to 8.78 goals per game in 2011.
Galasso (West Islip, N.Y.) and Keenan (Perry Hall, Md.) set a slew of freshman records for Carolina this year. Galasso established freshmen marks for assists (32) and points (56) in a season, leading UNC in both categories. His 24 goals ranked second on the team. Keenan won more face-offs (191) than any freshman in UNC lore and his 109 ground balls were also a first-year mark for a Tar Heel. He finished his freshman year with a 59.5 percent mark at the X.
Holman (Baltimore, Md.) and Dunster (Cos Cob, Conn.) were Carolina's leading midfield scorers in 2011. Holman had 28 points on 23 goals (third best on the team) and five assists, while Dunster had 21 points with a total of 13 goals and eight assists. Dunster repeated on the honorable mention team for the second straight year while this was the first honor for Holman.
The last time UNC had six players earn All-America was 2004 when Jed Prossner, Ronnie Staines, Bryant Will, Paul Spellman, Kevin Frew and Stephen McElduff were all named to the team.
