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April 11, 2008

Inside Lacrosse Mid-Season Report

BALTIMORE, Md. - Two-time All-America defenseman Jordan DiNola (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) is among six Navy men's lacrosse players whom Inside Lacrosse has selected as its favorites for All-America recognition come Memorial Day weekend. In a week-long special, Inside Lacrosse selected its list of players who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in its Mid-Season Report.

Three members of Navy's stellar defense earned kudos from Inside Lacrosse, including DiNola who was one of three players whom IL predicts as a first-team. Wing man and classmate Brendan Teague (Annapolis, Md.), who has never earned All-America status, was named a third-teamer. Meanwhile, short stick defensive midfielder Geoff Leone (Massapequa, N.Y.) was chosen as the second-best player at his position in the country.

As a package, the Navy defense is ranked No. 1 in the country, surrendering 4.85 goals per game. The Mids have held nine of their 11 opponents to seven or fewer goals this season and seven of their last eight to five or fewer goals. Navy's defense has held six of its 11 opponents scoreless in the opening period as the Mids have outscored their foes, 21-8, in the first period of action. Navy is coming off perhaps its best defensive half in recent memory. The Mids held Maryland scoreless for the first 41 minutes of play and held the Terps to four goals, well below their 12-plus goal average.

Ranked No. 5 in the country in faceoff percentage, senior Mikelis Visgauss earned a tip of the hat by IL who served up honorable mention kudos for the Setauket, N.Y. native. Visgauss is winning 62.1 percent of the draws he has taken this spring and his 87 wins are the 11th most in program history. Meanwhile, he stands eighth on the Mids' career faceoff wins list with 142.

Sophomore Patrick Moran (Annapolis, Md.) has enjoyed success in his first season as a starter on the Mids' first midfield line. Third on the team in scoring and first out of the midfield, Moran has pitched in 16 points on 14 goals and two assists this spring and is responsible for game-winners against Lehigh and Colgate. Moran saw action in just five games a year ago, targeting a pair of goals, both in the Mids' 19-8 rout over North Carolina.

Finally, senior attack man Nick Mirabito (Binghamton, N.Y.) is projected to be a Second-Team All-America. The Preseason Honorable Mention All-American has scored 20 goals in each of his first three seasons and is just two shy of achieving that feat in 2008. Navy's leading scorer with 37 points on 18 goals and 19 assists, he is ranked 16th in the nation in assists per game (1.73), 19th in points per game (3.36) and 63rd in goals per game (1.64). He is just one of four players in the program's 101-year history who has scored 90 goals and dished out 50 assists and is just one point away from becoming only the ninth player in school history to reach 150 points.

The Mids will be back in action on Saturday when they pay a visit to West Point where No. 6 Navy will battle 17th-ranked Army in the annual Star Game. Action is slated for 12:00 pm at Michie Stadium and will be televised live by ESPNU. A Navy win would give the Mids the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament April 25 and 27, though a Navy loss would put the Mids in a tie with Army and Bucknell who each have a loss in league competition.

### Go Navy ###

 Coach Niumatalolo Press Conf., 10/4
 Shinego Interview, 10/4
 Harmon Interview, 10/4
 Middleton Interview, 10/4
 Kettani Interview, 10/4
 Doyle Interview, 10/4