Three Falcons Earn All-GWLL Honors

May 11, 2006

Three Falcons Earn All-GWLL Honors

USAFA, Colo. - Three Air Force players were honored with the Great Western Lacrosse League’s 2006 season awards, as announced by Commissioner Jon Hind today. Senior goalkeeper Justin Pavoni (Park City, Utah) earned first-team All-GWLL honors for the second-straight season while junior attack Will Meister (Denver, Colo.) and freshman midfielder Griffin Nevitt (Charlotte, N.C.) were both named to the second team.

Pavoni, who was also named the Falcons’ most valuable player at the team banquet Wednesday evening, shared first-team goalkeeper honors with Notre Dame’s Joey Kemp. Pavoni, the Falcons’ primary netminder, helped lead Air Force to its best win total since 1997, while averaging a league-leading 10.53 saves per game. He also finished the year ranked second in the GWLL in ground balls per game (5.0) and save percentage (.575). Pavoni ends his career with 458 total saves, which is good for seventh on the career list at the Academy, despite seeing just three full years of action.

Meister, one of the Falcons’ three team captains this season, scored a team-best 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 2006 and finished the year as one of the nation’s assist leaders. One of Air Force’s most consistent and hardworking players, Meister needs just three more assists to break into the Falcons’ career top-10 list.

Nevitt had a breakout season in his rookie campaign, leading the Falcons with 26 goals, while adding nine assists on the season. As a result, Nevitt is one of the top scorers in the nation in both his class and at his position and should enjoy a successful career at the Academy.

In addition to announcing the all-league first and second teams, the GWLL’s individual awards (Newcomer of the Year, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year) were released Thursday as well. The GWLL Newcomer of the Year award went to Ohio State attacker Joel Dalgarno, while Player of the Year honors went to Denver’s senior midfielder Geoff Snider, the nation’s leader in ground balls per game and face-off win percentage. Meanwhile, Jamie Munro was named 2006 GWLL Coach of the Year after leading Denver to a 12-4 overall record, a league championship and its first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.