First major award in program history

RINDGE, N.H. (May 2, 2011) -- Franklin Pierce freshman midfielder Eddie Noonan (Foxboro, Mass.) was named the 2011 Northeast-10 Conference Men's Lacrosse Rookie of the Year on Monday afternoon, as announced by the league. Noonan also earned a spot on the conference's all-rookie team. The voting for the all-rookie team and rookie of the year was done by the league's 11 head coaches.

Noonan scored a team-high 19 goals and assisted on seven others for a team-best 26 points this season. His seven helpers ranked as the second most on the team. Noonan's goal and point total led all rookies in the Northeast-10.

Noonan's collegiate career got off to a tremendous start as he registered at least one point in the first six games, while collecting multiple points in five of those contests. He had an assist in a 13-7 win over Curry back in the season-opener on March 2, and then followed with an outstanding three-goal, one-assist, four-point performance in the Ravens' come-from-behind 9-8 win over Dominican on March 5.

He made his first career start against No. 8-nationally ranked Mercy on March 16 and scored a goal, while assisting on another for two points. Noonan scored a pair of goals versus No. 4 Le Moyne on March 19, fired in three markers at Pace on March 26, and then dumped in a trio of tallies in a 10-8 win at American International on March 30. His third goal versus AIC came a minute into the fourth quarter, and that tally ultimately proved to be the game-winner.

Noonan had a four-point (3 g, 1 a) performance against Southern New Hampshire on April 19, and concluded the 2011 season with a goal against No. 5-nationally ranked Adelphi on Saturday. He narrowly missed reaching the 20-goal mark early in the fourth quarter as his shot from the slot was deflected away at the last second by Adelphi's goaltender.

Noonan's award marks the first time in program history a Raven has won a player-of-the-year award from the NE-10. Noonan also won the NE-10 Rookie-of-the-Week award back on March 8, marking the first time in three years that a player from the program earned one of the league's top weekly awards.

Noonan's rookie team selection also marks the second-straight year a Raven was placed on the NE-10 All-Rookie squad. Defender Ben McDannell (Morrisville, Pa.) earned a spot on last year's team for his solid play on the back end for the Ravens.

For more information on Franklin Pierce men's lacrosse, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).