DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (May 23, 2024) – Mercy University men's lacrosse senior Jason Kuehner (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) has been named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II Co Face-Off Player of the Year headlining seven Mavericks named to the All-American Teams. Kuehner and senior Andrew Calabria (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) were named First Team All-American, graduate student Justin Gerdvil (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) and senior Tyler Pjatak (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) were tabbed Second Team All-American and graduate student TJ Heyder (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) and seniors Greg Gibbons (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) and Damiano Ferrara (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) were named Honorable Mention All-American.
Kuehner becomes the first Maverick in program history to be named Face-Off Player of the Year. The senior is named First Team All-American by the USILA after being named to the second team last season. Kuehner was named First Team All-Region by the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American earlier this month. The two-time ECC Offensive Player of the Week had nine goals, two assists, 11 points, 172 ground balls and went 288-for-414 (.696) on faceoffs. The one-time USILA Division II Team of the Week selection led the ECC in faceoff percentage and ground balls per game. The First Team All-ECC selection set a single-season school record for ground balls and faceoffs won and recorded his 200th career ground ball and 500th career faceoff win during the season. Kuehner ranks third nationally in faceoff win percentage and is third in ground balls per game (10.75). He ends his career with 290 career ground balls, a .663 faceoff win percentage (594-896), 18 goals, and six assists in 54 games.
Calabria is named All-American by the USILA for the first time in his career. The senior was named First Team All-Region by the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American Honorable Mention earlier this month. The First Team All-ECC selection recorded 38 goals, 31 assists, 69 points and 21 ground balls in 16 games. The four-time ECC Honor Roll recipient ranked second on the team in points and assists and recorded his 100th career point during the season. Calabria ranked seventh in the ECC in points per game (4.31) and fifth in assists per game (1.94). The senior ends his career with 87 goals, 68 assists, 155 points, and 61 ground balls in 61 games.
Gerdvil is tabbed All-American by the USILA for the fourth straight season. The graduate student is named Second Team All-American for the first time after being named First Team All-American in 2023 and Third Team All-American in 2022 and 2021. Gerdvil was named First Team All-Region by the USILA and Second Team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine earlier this month. The three-time ECC Defensive Player of the Year had a team-high 31 caused turnovers with 56 ground balls, two goals and one assist in 16 games. The First Team All-ECC selection and three-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week was third in the ECC in caused turnovers and fourth in caused turnovers per game (1.94). The ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recorded his 100th career caused turnover and 200th career ground ball during the season. The one-time USILA Division II Team of the Week recipient is currently ranked No. 26 nationally in caused turnovers per game. Gerdvil ends his career with 225 ground balls, 106 caused turnovers, four goals, six assists and 10 points in 67 games.
Pjatak is named All-American by the USILA for the third straight season. The senior is named Second Team All-American after being named Third Team All-American last season and Honorable Mention All-American in 2022. Pjatak was named First Team All-Region by the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team All-American earlier this month. The Second Team All-ECC recipient recorded five goals, three assists, eight points, 28 caused turnovers and 57 ground balls. He ranked second on the team in caused turnovers and was second in ground balls. Pjatak ends his career with 177 ground balls, 66 caused turnovers, nine goals, six assists and 15 points in 61 games.
Heyder takes home All-American Honorable Mention accolades for the second straight year. The Third Team All-Region selection and Second Team All-ECC honoree had a team-high 44 goals with 14 assists, 58 points and 32 ground balls in 14 games. The five-time ECC Honor Roll recipient ranked fifth in the ECC in goals and was second in goals per game (3.14). The attackman recorded his 200th career point and 100th career ground ball during the season. Heyder ends his career with 152 goals, 52 assists, 204 points and 101 ground balls in 66 games.
Gibbons is named All-American for the first time in his career after being named Third Team All-Region. The senior was named USA Lacrosse Magazine Second Team All-American and First Team All-ECC after ending the season with 28 goals, 51 assists, 79 points and 31 ground balls. The one-time ECC Offensive Player of the Week led the team in assists and points and led the ECC in assists per game (3.19) and assists. The two-time USILA Division II Team of the Week recipient was also second in the ECC in points per game (4.94) and third in points. Gibbons is currently ranked No. 2 nationally in assists per game and 11th in points per game. The senior set a new single-season school record for assists and recorded his 100th career point during the season. Gibbons ends his career with 38 goals, 67 assists, 105 points and 41 ground balls in 45 games.
Ferrara is named All-American by the USILA for the first time in his career. The senior was named Honorable Mention All-Region and First Team All-ECC earlier this month. The one-time ECC Honor Roll recipient produced seven goals, six assists, 13 points, 34 ground balls and nine caused turnovers in 16 games. Ferrara ends his career with 122 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, 16 goals, 12 assists and 28 points in 16 games.
