Demorest, GA – The 2015 Southeast Independent Lacrosse Championship, or All-SEILC, Team has been announced with a total of 14 student-athletes named to the first-ever listing as the Inaugural Tournament approaches this coming weekend in Demorest, GA.
Taking Offensive Player of the Year honors was Blaine Wise of Greensboro College who quadrupled his goal total from last year scoring 36 goals this season after coming into the season with 18 career goals through three years with the Pride. Now a senior under first-year Head Coach Mike Foderaro, Wise also posted ten assists this season setting a new high in that column as well leading the Pride in total points with 46 while also topping the team in total goals.
“I could not be more proud of Blaine for all that he has done for our program this season,” said first-year Head Coach Mike Foderaro. “He truly is a selfless human being who knows the meaning of hard work. Blaine is always there for his teammates and his coaches in times of need. Blaine has put together a great season and being voted Offensive Player of the Year shows his hard work has paid off.”
A native of North Palm Beach, Florida, Wise scored a season-high six goals in a 14-7 victory over Huntingdon College in one of four games against SEILC opponents for Greensboro who comes into the weekend as the #2 seed in the field with a 3-1 record. In the four contests with SEILC foes, Wise scored 14 of his 36 goals on the year and leads one of the top offenses in the field this weekend as the Pride averaged close to ten goals per game on the year.
Voted Coach of the Year was the first year leader at Greensboro in Head Coach Mike Foderaro who helped his team to its 3-1 mark against SEILC foes to go with a 6-8 overall record.
After falling 12-7 to Ferrum in their first game against an SEILC opponent, Foderaro helped his team close in style as the Pride won its final three against SEILC foes to claim the event’s #2 seed heading into the weekend including a 15-14 thriller over Piedmont on April 4 at Walker Athletic Complex, the site of the upcoming Championship.
Foderaro spoke of the award saying: “It is truly an honor to be voted Coach of the Year by my peers throughout the conference. Knowing that you have earned their respect is the true reward in receiving this award. Each and every one of us has put in hundreds of hours throughout this year trying to perfect our craft, and this award really could have gone to any of us.”
The final individual honor went to John Michael Smith of Ferrum College as the sophomore goalie was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the year-end awards listing. Smith posted a 7-9 record in the net this season overall going 3-1 in four starts against SEILC competition alone. “John Michael Smith is the backbone of the defense. He is only a sophomore and he is simply amazing,” said Ferrum Head Coach Mark Frey. “The funny thing about this situation, is last year he wanted to play attack in the fall! His success is due to his heart and desire to compete and win. Could not be more proud of him and his accomplishments.”
Frey continued to praise his young rising star saying, “He his is selfless by always working with our freshman goalies, which he learned from our goalie from last year (Damian Pulos) they had a great relationship which rare as these guys compete for one spot! Johnny Mike has continued that tradition. The goalie position is a rare breed! He is one of those unique individuals, I love having him here at Ferrum. He has improved even more under the tutelage of AJ Smith! Can’t wait to see what this young man does for us in the next two years!”
In his four games against SEILC opponents, Smith made 42 saves and allowed six goals per contest twice holding opponents to four goals or less in those appearances. On the season, Smith posted a .535 save percentage and a 9.93 goals against average playing nearly 900 minutes in the cage this season.
The first-ever SEILC Tournament will be held this weekend at Walker Athletic Complex on the campus of Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. The lighted, turf facility will serve as the host for both semifinal contests on Friday, April 17 starting at 4:00 pm with the #3 seed Huntingdon College taking on 2nd-seeded Greensboro College.
The second semifinal, featuring the tourney’s top seed Ferrum College taking on host Piedmont College, will take place after the first on Friday with game time set for 7:00 pm as an awards ceremony honoring the 2015 All-SEILC Team will take place between the two contests on Friday. The Championship Game is set for Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 pm.
All contests will be broadcast live and free of cost courtesy of the Mane Event Broadcasting Network, Piedmont’s live video network established in the summer of 2013. The broadcast will feature audio commentary with a pre-game show starting 10 minutes prior to the start of each semifinal.
Live statistics will also be available for fans not able to make it out to Walker Athletic Complex.
