Dec. 13, 2007

Erie, Pa. - Inside Lacrosse Magazine has named four Mercyhurst Lakers to its 2008 preseason All-American teams. Goalkeeper Jason LaShomb was named to the first team, while defenseman Matt Spahr garnered second team honors. Attacker David Osier and midfielder Mike Thon were both named honorable mention All-Americans.

LaShomb came into his own his sophomore year after playing just seven games as a freshman. He was a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Second Team All-American and an East Coast Conference (ECC) First Team All-Conference goalkeeper in 2007. He was named the ECC Goalkeeper of the Week five times and started all 15 games for the Lakers. LaShomb boasted impressive numbers in the cage, allowing an average of 6.74 goals a game, the second-best season in program history, and posting a .613 save percentage. He had at least 10 saves in a game nine times and recorded a career-high 16 saves, along with seven groundballs, in the team's semifinal win over New York Institute of Technology.

Spahr has been a defensive stalwart for the Lakers since his freshman year and in 2007 was rewarded for his efforts with an East Coast Conference Second Team All-Conference honor. He played in 12 games and started ten of those contests. Spahr recorded one goal last season against C.W. Post and ranked fourth on the team with 32 groundballs. He will be key as the team looks to replace NCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Year Joe Thon.

Just a junior, Osier already ranks second in Mercyhurst history with 47 career assists. His 37 assists last year were the school's single season record and he currently sits in sixth in points per game and 15th in career points. Osier tallied a point in every game except the season opener, totaling 51 points. He scored a pair of goals in three separate games and added five assists three different times as well.

Thon started at midfield in all 15 games for the Lakers and was one of five players to finish with at least 40 points. He scored 27 goals and added 14 assists, posting a season-high six points (three goals and three assists) in a regular season win over New York Institute of Techonology. He also assisted on face-offs, posting a 20-19 record in 39 attempts, the second-most on the team.

Defending national champion Le Moyne led the way in the Inside Lacrosse Magazine All-American teams, garnering seven selections, including three first-teamers. Bryant was next with six selections, followed by New York Institute of Technology with five. Mercyhurst and Limestone each had four.

A year ago, the Lakers went 13-2, rolled to a 6-0 mark in the ECC, and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship game, losing to Le Moyne 6-5.

The team opens the season Feb. 24 at Queens (N.C.) at 2 p.m. The Lakers will get a rematch with Le Moyne, the only team to beat Mercyhurst a year ago, on the road March 9 and the team opens the season at home against Limestone March 16 at 1 p.m.