2000 MAAC Champions! The St. Joseph's University men's lacrosse team celebrated their best season ever, winning their first ever MAAC Championship. Ironically, men's lacrosse, one of the newest sports to be added to the varsity stable at SJU, becomes the first to win a conference title in the New Millennium. The Hawks' first varsity season was in 1993 and eight years later the team is on top of the MAAC, ending their record-breaking year with a best-ever 12-4 record. Unbeaten in conference play, the Hawks led the MAAC in scoring (356pts), scoring offense (13.56 gpg) and in scoring margin (3.37). Additionally, SJU ranked among the nation's best in several categories. The Hawks finished fifth in the NCAA in face-off percentage (.601), seventh in scoring offense, seventh in man-down defense (.777), eighth in winning percentage (.750), 12th in scoring margin, and 18th in man-advantage offense (.356). Two Hawk players, juniors Rob McCracken and Randy McNeill, earned spots on the MAAC All-Conferenc team. McNeill and sophomore Bert Whitelock were named MAAC Players of the Week once while freshman Chris Spay was named MAAC Rookie of the Week once. The Hawks were led by Whitelock's 57 points (21g, 36a). The playmaker broke SJU's single season assists record while ranking first in the MAAC and eleventh in the nation in assists per game (2.25). He also ranked second in the conference in scoring and third in points per game (3.56). McNeill finished second on the team in scoring with 49 points and led the team with 36 goals. His 49 points ranked third in the MAAC. McNeill, the Hawks' Most Outstanding Offensive Player, currently ranks seventh on SJU's all-time goals list with 76 and ninth on the all-time scoring list with 99 points. His 2.40 goals per game ranked fourth in the MAAC. Four-year starter Drew Scott finished his final season ranked third on the team with 44 points (29g, 15a), good for fourth in the MAAC. Scott enjoyed an outstanding career with the Hawks, finishing second on SJU's all-time goals list (105), third on the all-time scoring list (179), and third on the all-time assists list (74). Senior Corey Comen, SJU's all-time face-off specialist, finished his final season ranked fifth in the nation in face-off percentage with a 64% success rate. The midfielder ended his career on Hawk Hill ranked eighth on SJU's all-time assists list with 27. Senior tri-captain Rob Herzog and McCracken were voted the team's co-MVP's. McCracken, a defender picked up a team-high 92 groundballs, good for 18th in the nation, while Herzog finished tied for fourth on the team in scoring with 34 points. The midfielder ended his career ranked fourth on SJU's all-time assists list with 72. Senior Joe O'Donnell was named MAAC Tournament MVP after scoring seven goals in two games. The midfielder finished his career at SJU ranked sixth on both the school's all-time scoring list (112) and all-time goals list (85). SJU Sophomore Nick Leopard stepped up his level of play at the end of the season. The goalkeeper capped off his season being named to the MAAC All-Tournament team, turning back 29 shots in two games. Herzog and McNeill were also named to the All-Tournament team. Senior Phil Marchese was named to the MAAC All-Academic squad for the second straight year while fellow seniors Kevin O'Doherty and Nick Annechini were named SJU's Defensive Players of the Year. Freshman Chris Spay was voted the team's Rookie of the Year while sophomore Alan Reagan garnered Most Improved Player honors.