Four Men's Lacrosse Players Honored on NEILA Preseason All-New England Team

Pictured: Dean Gibbons was Harvard's second leading scorer with 21 goals in 2009.
Photo courtesy: David Silverman Photography

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Four members of the 12th-ranked Harvard men's lacrosse team have been selected to the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Preseason All-New England team, the NEILA announced Wednesday.

Junior attackman Dean Gibbons, senior midfielder Jason Duboe and senior defenseman Billy Geist were honored on the preseason team, while freshman attackman Peter Schwartz was named preseason Co-Rookie of the Year.

Gibbons, who hails from Garden City, N.Y., ranked second on the Crimson with 21 goals and 27 points during his sophomore season in 2009.  He tied for the team lead with three game-winning tallies and also found the back of the net three times on man-up opportunities.  For his effort, he was tabbed to the All-Ivy League honorable mention team, as well as the NEILA All-New England second team.

Duboe, a candidate for the pretigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award this spring, has received multiple preseason accolades.  He was chosen to the Inside Lacrosse preseason All-America honorable mention squad, as well as the publication's preseason All-Ivy League first team.  He ranked second on Harvard last season with 19 points, scoring three man-up goals and was honored on the All-Ivy second team, as well as the NEILA All-New England first team. A native of Long Grove, Ill., Duboe also earned a spot on the prestigious Academic All-Ivy League team in 2009.

A defender from Arnold, Md., Geist, a co-captain of the Crimson, was also named to the Inside Lacrosse preseason All-America honorable mention team.  He earned a spot on the All-Ivy League honorable mention team last spring after helping Harvard rank third in the nation in scoring defense.  He collected 20 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers, while being a leader of the defensive unit.

A freshman from Jenkintown, Pa., Schwartz split preseason Co-Rookie of the Year honors with Fairfield's Marshall Johnson.  Schwartz was the No. 63 incoming freshman according to Inside Lacrosse and will step into his first season with the Crimson this spring.

Harvard was also selected third in the NEILA preseason poll, trailing Massachusetts and Brown, respectively, in the rankings.  The Crimson was rated 12th nationally in the preseason Inside Lacrosse and LaxNews polls, and appeared 14th in the USILA preseason ranking.  Harvard opens its season at home against Canisius Saturday, Feb. 27.  The game, scheduled for 1 p.m., will be played at Cumnock Turf.