ATTLEBORO, Mass. - The 2017 New England Collegiate Conference champion Regis (Mass.) men's lacrosse team has received three All-NECC selections. Senior Brandon Mehler (Bay Shore, N.Y.), junior AJ Karofsky (Barrington, R.I.) and sophomore George Nicolopoulos (Windham, N.H.) were named First Team All-Conference, while freshman Brian Wagner (Melrose, Mass.) represents the Pride on the NECC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Two days after being named Most Valuable Player of the NECC Tournament, Mehler receives his first NECC All-Conference selection, making the First Team as a face-off specialist. The senior ranked second in the NECC with 126 faceoffs won in 16 games, and was the only player in the NECC to record triple digits in ground balls with 104 on the season. He also ranked second on the Pride and fourth in the conference with 28 goals scored.
The only member of the Pride to score more goals than Mehler on the season was Karofsky, who led the Pride with 32 goals, tied for second in the NECC. With 14 assists in addition, Karofsky finished just one off team lead with 46 points on the season. Karofsky scored at least one goal in each of his 14 games played on the season, and combined for seven in the NECC Tournament.
Nicolopoulos receives his first All-Conference selection, getting the nod in the long stick midfielder position. The sophomore ranked second on the Pride and tied for eighth in the conference with 52 ground balls on the season, and ranked third on his team with 11 caused turnovers. Usually a more defensive-minded player, Nicolopoulos scored his first collegiate goal late in the second quarter of the Pride's NECC Semifinal win over Mitchell, a goal that would prove to be the game-winner.
Wagner rounds out the Pride's All-Conference honors with a spot on the All-Sportsmanship team. The rookie finished the year with two goals and 14 assists for 16 points on the year, while winning 50 faceoffs and scooping up 38 ground balls. An impressive two-point, 12-for-15 on faceoffs, 10 ground ball performance against Wheelock on April 8 earned Wagner Rookie of the Week honors earlier this season.
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