Athletics News

Three Camels Earn All-NESCAC Honors Moran Named First-Team Goalkeeper for Connecticut College

Mark Moran ´10 was Named to the First Team of the 2008 All-NESCAC Squad. Brian Ford ´08 and Jesse Stevenson ´09 Were Honored as Second Team Selections for the Camels

May 08, 2008

NEW LONDON, Conn.--Three Connecticut College men´s lacrosse players have been named to the All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Team. Sophomore goalkeeper Mark Moran of Greenwich, Conn. was named to the First-Team. Senior defender Brian Ford of Hinesburg, Vt. and junior midfielder Jesse Stevenson of Marshfield, Mass. were honored as second team selections for the Camels.

Moran anchored the #1 ranked defense in the NESCAC, leading the league in goals against average (6.19 GAA) and save percentage (.640). He recorded a season-high 18 saves in an 11-4 victory at Colby April 19. Moran´s selection marked the first time a Camel had received first team recognition since current assistant coach Topher Grossman ´05 garnered the honor in his senior season with the program.

Connecticut College head coach Dave Cornell was pleased with the conference recognition for his goalkeeper in a league that features some of the top net-minders in the nation.

"Mark had a wonderful year for us," Cornell stated. "He really worked hard on his game with Coach Grossman and his time and energy was justly rewarded. The funny thing is that I think he is just scratching the surface of what he can accomplish."

A model of consistency within the Camel defensive corps, Brian Ford frequently matched up against opposing team's best attackman. In his senior season, Ford corralled 45 ground balls for Connecticut College, completing his career with 149 ground balls.

Ford has achieved Dean´s High Honors every semester. He is a member of the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honors Society and was named to the NESCAC All-Academic Team in the spring of 2007. Ford will receive his degree in mathematics and economics this spring.

"Brian was on a mission this year and he succeeded," Cornell asserted. "He really stepped up his off season training and was in tremendous shape this spring. The biggest lesson that I hope our younger guys learn from Brian is that he came to play every practice. He played hard every day. He set the tone for us in a lot of games by immediately imposing his will on some very good attackmen and gave the rest of the team a lot of confidence."

Jesse Stevenson has been one of the primary weapons in the Camels´ offensive arsenal. Stevenson netted 16 goals to go with 15 assists in 2008. He has amassed 62 goals, 36 assists and 98 points in his productive three-year career with the program. A Dean´s List student, Stevenson is majoring in biochemistry at the College.

"Jesse represents what this program is trying to become," Cornell asserted. "Selflessness cannot just be a cliché term for us. It needs to be our M.O. We asked Jesse to make a positional change and accept a role that he may not be comfortable with for the better of the team. Instead of griping about it, Jesse flourished in it. He also stepped up his leadership this year. I'm very happy for Jesse. I think he's just starting to realize his potential."

The Camels completed the season with a 10-6 record, earning the most wins for the program since the 2001 season. The team won five of its last six games of the season, finishing with a 5-4 mark in the NESCAC.

For more information contact: William Tomasian (860) 439-2501; william.tomasian@conncoll.edu