NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 30, 2018) -- Georgian Court University men's lacrosse standout Austin Geissel on Tuesday was named both the 2019 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Player and Goalkeeper of the Year, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. Geissel was also named to the All-CACC First Team, as the voting for the league's all-conference and major awards was conducted by the league's six head coaches in the sport.

Geissel was joined by other major award winners, including GCU's P.J. Saracino (CACC Rookie of the Year), Chestnut Hill College's John Bennett (CACC Defensive Player of the Year) and CHC's Mike Terranova (CACC Coach of the Year).

Geissel has been a brick wall in goal for the Lions this season, as he is 8-7 with a 62.4 percent save percentage and a 10.01 goals against average. He leads the conference in saves (232), save percentage, and lowest goals against average. Geissel has posted 12 games with double-figure saves, including three with at least 20 stops. His season-best mark was 28 in the opener versus Southern New Hampshire, while also he also turned aside 26 attempts on Saturday in the regular season finale victory against Dominican College, which locked up the No. 2 seed for the Lions.

Saracino was named the league's top rookie after posting 46 points on 26 goals and 20 assists. He ranks fourth in the league in assists and eighth in goals. Saracino's total points are also eighth in the CACC. He has also scooped up 41 ground balls this year.

Bennett has been a strong defensive player throughout the season, as the midfielder was named the conference's top defensive player. He has logged 37 ground balls during the season, while also causing 13 turnovers. His steadying play defensively helped guide the Griffins to a perfect 5-0 record in league play during the year and capturing the CACC Regular Season Championship.

Terranova was named the CACC Coach of the Year, as he has guided the Griffins to 10-4 overall record and a 5-0 mark in league play. By winning the CACC Regular Season Championship, CHC earned the No. 1 seed for this week's CACC tournament, which will be held Thursday and Saturday on the GCU campus in Lakewood, N.J.

The other major award handed out on Tuesday was Georgian Court being named the 2019 CACC Team Sportsmanship Award winner for demonstrating outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the campaign.

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Austin Geissel (Georgian Court University)

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
P.J. Saracino (Georgian Court University)

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Bennett (Chestnut Hill College)

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Austin Geissel (Georgian Court University)

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Terranova (Chestnut Hill College)

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Georgian Court University

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
A Dylan McCleaft (Wilmington University)
A Carson Rees (Chestnut Hill College)
A P.J. Saracino (Georgian Court University)
M Marcos Pierce (Dominican College)
M Ryder Verdoni (Georgian Court University)
M Scott Wilden (Chestnut Hill College)
D Connor Crawford (Chestnut Hill College)
D Jon Howell (Wilmington University)
D Kyle Leary (Wilmington University)
GK Austin Geissel (Georgian Court University)
LSM Troy Longley (Georgian Court University)
SSDM Anthony Fodali (Georgian Court University)
SP Stephen Falco (Dominican College)

2019 CACC MEN’S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
A Casey Brown (Chestnut Hill College)
A Nicholas D’Alessandro (Dominican College)
A J.R. Howell (Chestnut Hill College)
M John Bennett (Chestnut Hill College)
M Ben Revak (Chestnut Hill College)
M Chris Smith (Wilmington University)
D Garven Hadden IV (Georgian Court University)
D Connor O’Donnell (Chestnut Hill College)
D Kyle Souza (Dominican College)
GK Austin Jones (Chestnut Hill College)
LSM Matthew Anderson (Chestnut Hill College)
SSDM Billy DiMaio (Chestnut Hill College)
SP Anton Mackey (Wilmington University)

ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.