Keating and Decker Second-Team, Oreskovich Honorable Mention as USILA Releases 2009 DIII All-America Team
PERRY, N.Y. (May 20, 2009) – Late Tuesday evening, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced the 2009 Division III All-America team. Three Stevens Institute of Technology players were honored as senior attackman Matt Keating and sophomore goalkeeper Dave Decker were both named second-team All-Americans, and senior attackman J.R. Oreskovich was an honorable mention All-American. This gives the program 62 in its 125-year history, but it is the first time Stevens lacrosse has placed two individuals on the second-team.
Keating, who was recently selected to play in the North/South Senior All-Star game along with Oreskovich wrapped up his career in Hoboken with a marvelous season. He led the team and conference in goals and points with 40 and 69, respectively, and had at least two points in every Stevens game this season. He scored two game-winning goals, six man-up goals, and caused 17 turnovers to go along with his 44 ground balls. He finished the season with 13 multiple-goal games and averaged 3.83 points per outing. The attackman was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year in early May and with that came first-team all-conferences accolades. The Stevens standout also was named All-Metro Region.
Decker, a 2008 honorable mention All-American, was named to the second-team for the first time in his two-year career. The sophomore went 11-6 in goal for Stevens and is now 19-10 overall. Decker totaled 185 saves and faced 503 shots in more than 900 minutes of action. He registered a .585 save percentage and was credited with 23 ground balls, three caused turnovers, and one memorable assist April 25 against Ithaca College. He notched double-digit saves 10 different times and made at least 20 twice. Decker was named the Empire 8’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive season while going 5-2 in conference contests. He too was named All-Metro Region.
This is the third time that Oreskovich, the Stevens career leader in points and assists, has been named to the USILA All-America Team. He earned third-team recognition in 2007 and honorable mention honors in 2006. Oreskovich was injured in 2008 but did not disappoint in 2009. He finished the year with 31 goals and 29 assists for a total of 60 points. He was a first-team All-Empire 8 selection at attack and scored the game-winner in four different contests. He also scored five man-up goals in addition to recording 31 ground balls. Like Keating and Decker, Oreskovich was also named All-Metro Region. He also was selected to play in the North/South Division III All-Star Game.
From 1968-2003 Stevens did not have an All-American but the program has had 18 since, all under present Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Byron Collins. 2009 also marks the fourth time since 2004 that three or more Ducks have received the prestigious accolade from the USILA.
Stevens finished the season with a record of 12-6 against one of the hardest schedules in the country. The Ducks fell in the conference semifinals but went on to win their second Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro/South Championship in three seasons with a 15-9 win over Drew University.
