NEWTON, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College seniors Liam Skinner (Irving, Texas) and Connor Trainor (Franklin, Mass.) have been selected to play in the 2018 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) East-West Senior All-Star Game.
Additionally, Assistant Coach Jonathan Horgan '12 has been tabbed as coach for the East Team. Skinner and Trainor will be the second and third players to participate in the annual exhibition; Horgan, who played in the 2012 East-West Senior All-Star Game, was the first.
The game will take place at Penmen Stadium in Hooksett, New Hampshire at Southern New Hampshire University on Friday, June 1st. Face-off will be at 6:30 pm and will feature the top graduating students from Divisions 1, 2, and 3.
Skinner, a two-time All-Conference honoree, after posted career-highs in ground balls (78) and caused turnovers (43) this spring. He ranked second in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in caused turnovers and seventh in ground balls during his senior season and closed out his college career as the Monks' all-time leader in caused turnovers (144).
Trainor, a 2018 Third Team All-GNAC selection, registered a 9.59 goals-against average with a .505 save percentage during his senior season. He paced the GNAC in wins (10), ranked second in games (19) and minutes (1000:32), and fourth in goals-against average during the 2018 campaign. Trainor completed his career ranked second in team history in goalkeeper games (60), minutes (2,906), saves (527), wins (23), and shots faced (1679) and third in goals-against average (9.81) and save percentage (.526).
All players and coaches were nominated by the head coaches within the NEILA. Players were then ranked and selected by a committee awarding seniors from all three NCAA Divisions who played their college career in the New England region.
"The NEILA recognizes these terrific student-athletes for their accomplishments over their entire playing careers. To be selected for the East-West All-Star game means that you have been a star not just this year, but throughout your four years in New England collegiate lacrosse," said Tim Murphy, head coach of Curry College and coordinator of the East-West All-Star team selection.
The NEILA East-West game also gives assistant coaches from some of the top programs each year the opportunity to take the reins as the coaching staffs of each team. This year, the West will be coached by Ben Lanman of Southern New Hampshire, Matt Dalton of Springfield College and Andrew Deane of Western New England University. The East will be head manned by Trevar Haefele of Bates College and Jonathan Horgan of Saint Joseph's (ME).
2018 NEILA SENIOR ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS