Two Hawks Named Lacrosse All-Americans

The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced its annual list of Division I All-Americans on May 26 prior to the start of the Final Four in Baltimore. For the first time in University of Hartford men’s lacrosse history, two Hawks were tabbed All-American as senior Tim Fallon was named to the second team and junior Carter Bender received honorable mention.

An All-American honorable mention selection a year ago, Fallon earns the first second-team accolade of his career after an impressive senior campaign. A two-time first-team All-America East honoree and the 2011 New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s Player of the Year, he again proved himself to be one of the top face-off guys in the nation. With three games remaining in Division I lacrosse, Fallon currently ranks second in the nation in ground balls per game (9.22) and boasts the NCAA’s eighth-best percentage at the face-off X (.621). 

This season, Fallon also took a dramatic leap up the Hawks’ career record lists, ending his four-year career in first place overall for career ground balls (404) and career face-off percentage (.573). Fallon also owns Hartford’s single season ground ball record, having registered 166 during his senior season.

Fallon also played a key role in helping fuel the Hawks’ historic run through the postseason this season. In the America East Tournament championship, he dominated inside of the circle winning 16-of-24 duels while collecting nine ground balls to help defeat Stony Brook and lead the Hawks to their first-ever conference tournament title. During the tournament, he won 66-percent of his face-offs (35-of-55) and combined for 27 ground balls en route to earning the tournament’s most outstanding player honors.

Bender earns the first All-America selection of his career with an honorable mention nod. The junior attackman was named America East All-Conference Second Team and NEILA First Team in 2011 as a member of one of the most balanced offensive units in the league. 

A native of Caledon, Ontario and product of Brewster Academy, Bender enjoyed a solid season for the Hawks, leading the team with goals (35) and points (53), both career-best numbers while ranking second in assists (18). In addition, Bender finished among the America East leaders in scoring, ranking third in points (3.12 per game), fifth in goals (2.06 per game) and ninth in assists (1.06 per game).

Bender, a member of the 2011 America East All-Championship Team, engraved his name in Hartford’s record books as he finished the year ranked eighth overall in program history in career points (116). He also became the first Hawks player since 2003, and the first under head coach Peter Lawrence’s tutelage, to reach the century mark when he scored his fifth goal against Fairfield last month. 

Hartford finished the season 11-7 overall, its best record since the 2000 season, while earning the program’s first-ever America East Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.