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Haire, Mele to Represent Bucknell in Lax North-South All-Star Game
May 19, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Defenseman Billy Haire (Darien, Conn./Darien) and attackman Joe Mele (Westbury, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), two members of the Bucknell men’s lacrosse senior class, have been selected to participate in the 68th United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association North-South All-Star Game at Harvard Stadium on Friday, May 22. Both Bison will play for the South team, which will be coached by Jim Stagnita of Rutgers. Haire and Mele were key parts of Bucknell’s all-time winningest senior class. The Class of 2009 won 36 games in four years and helped the Bison reach the Patriot League championship game in both 2008 and 2009. Haire was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year this spring. He was also an Inside Lacrosse Preseason Honorable Mention All-American, and he earned his third straight All-Patriot League certificate this season with a First Team mention. Bucknell’s defensive stopper, he Haire never missed a start in four years at Bucknell. He was a two-time conference defensive player of the week in 2009, and he led a defense that annually ranked among the national leaders. A team co-captain, Haire was second on the team this season with 52 ground balls, and his 166 career ground balls rank second in school history behind only Ryan Goodman (175 from 2002-05). While Haire has been one of the Patriot League’s top defensive players, Mele has been one of the league’s best scorers. Also a team co-captain, Mele produced a team-high and career-high 28 goals in 2009. It was his fourth straight season with 24 or more goals, and his 103 career tallies ranks fourth in program history.
This season he enjoyed five-goal games against both Duke and Army and had hat tricks against Penn State and Holy Cross. Perhaps best-known for his overtime game-winner against No. 1 Maryland during his freshman season, Mele had seven multi-goal games this year and had at least one point in 14 of 16 contests. Bryant head coach Mike Pressler will coach the North team, which features four other Patriot League players: Colgate’s Brandon Corp, Mike Colleluori and Andrew Watkins and Army’s Kevin LoRusso. The Division I/II North-South Game will be played at 4 p.m. as part of a tripleheader. It will be preceded by the Division III game at 2 p.m. and followed by a Major League Lacrosse contest featuring the Boston Cannons and the Denver Outlaws at 7:30 p.m. |
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