Dec. 27, 2006

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst water polo athlete Andrew Schonhoff was named Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division II First Team All-American. The sophomore center is already the school's all-time leading scorer and led the team to its best record in program history.

Schonhoff finished the 2006 season with 54 goals and 18 assists, leading the team with 72 points, as well as 33 drawn ejections. He also added 18 steals as the Lakers finished 12-8 on the season and received their first CWPA Top 10 ranking ever. During one stretch, Mercyhurst won ten consecutive contests and defeated NCAA Divison I programs Iona and Fordham. The Lakers shared the CWPA Southern Conference, Western Division crown with Gannon, finishing 5-1 in league play.

The Laker record book is littered with Schonhoff's name as his 99 career goals are 28 more than any other player. He holds the second and third highest single season goal totals and ranks third in career assists as well. His 140 career points trails junior teammate Kevin Riordan for 27 at the top of the all-time Mercyhurst leaderboard.

Schonhoff joined six members from the University of California-San Diego on the seven-man First Team. UC-San Diego dominated the Division II national scene and finished the year ranked No. 5 in the country among all programs (Division I schools included). The Tritons finished third at the NCAA National Championships and was the only Division II program to reach the Final Four.

Schonhoff joins Brad Armstrong as the only athletes in program history to be named First Team All-American. Armstrong achieved the feat in 2004 after scoring 60 goals and totaling 72 points, the exact amount that Schonhoff reached this year.