MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Wheaton College (Mass.) men's lacrosse players Evan Borchert (Littleton, Colo.) and Henry Stamatel (Plainville, Mass.) earned New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Second Team All-Conference honors, it was announced by the NEWMAC.
The multiple All-Conference selections mark the first time since 2015 when Ryan Clair '16 and Will Morrisson '17 earned All-League status that the Lyons have boasted more than one All-Conference selection in a season.
Borchert becomes the first goalie named from Wheaton since Clair in 2015 as well. The junior enjoyed a breakout season as the Lyons' primary starting goaltender for the first time in his career. Borchert answered the call again and again, leading the NEWMAC with 13.27 saves per game, while owning a sparkling .601 save percentage to rank second among conference keepers and 14th in the nation. The ThunderRidge High School product started all 15 games for Wheaton and registered a 9.51 goals against average to stand second among NEWMAC leaders and was 51st in NCAA Division III. He allowed just six or fewer markers on seven occasions, including just one goal against Emerson College, while making 11 saves in 56:58 minutes of play on March 21. Borchert consistently gave the Lyons a chance to win with double-digit saves in all but two contests, while stopping 13 or more shots eight times. In his final four games of the season, the Accounting major recorded 67 saves to average 16.8 stops per game during the stretch. The Colorado native's play did not go unnoticed, earning him NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honors twice during the season. Borchert posted a career-high 19 saves on April 4 vs. Salve Regina University and his season-total of 199 saves ranks as the eighth-most in program history.
For his career, Borchert has seen action in 19 contests, while registering 209 saves for an impressive .604 save percentage to go with a 9.53 GAA in 862:37 minutes over 19 games.
Stamatel was one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, topping the NEWMAC with 2.00 caused turnovers per game, while also ranking 68th among the nation's leaders. In addition, he averaged 4.38 ground balls per game to place sixth among conference foes. A graduate of Bishop Feehan High School, Stamatel helped Wheaton maintain a 9.67 goals against mark to place second in the NEWMAC. The Business Management, Finance and Accounting major started all 13 games he appeared in and caused at least one turnover in all but one game. Stamatel recorded multiple caused turnovers eight times, including six outings with three and put together a four-game stretch from February 28 to March 5, where he caused three turnovers in four straight games. The Bay State native showed a nose for the ball with four or more ground balls in eight contests and came up with a career-high seven ground balls vs. Eastern Connecticut State University on March 17. Stamatel also netted a goal on March 21 vs. Emerson.
In three seasons with the Lyons, Stamatel has started 39 of 46 games, while picking up 138 ground balls and causing 59 turnovers.
Wheaton concluded the season with a 9-6 overall record, including 2-5 in NEWMAC play.
