St. John's University Athletics
DeNapoli Named 2009 NCAA Ground Balls Statistical Champion
6/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
June 22, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's lacrosse senior LSM Dom DeNapoli was named the 2009 NCAA Division I Statistical Champion for ground balls per game. For 10-straight weeks, the 2009 captain led the division in ground balls per game (8.5).
DeNapoli has been ranked in the NCAA Top 100 in that statistical category for four-straight seasons.
The Hewlett, N.Y., native continues to receive off-season accolades as he was selected to the annual USILA Senior North-Senior All-Star game, was a 2009 First team All-ECAC selection and was named the team's most valuable player at the Athletic Department's annual awards dinner.
The captain ended his season ranked No. 5 among top scoring long poles in Division I with nine points (7 goals, 2 assists) and No. 28 in face-off win percentage.
"I'm very excited for Dom," remarked head coach Jason Miller. "There isn't a better stat that represents the effort, passion, heart and determination that Dom played with."
The senior had his best game of the season in St. John's season-opener at Holy Cross (Feb. 14). DeNapoli won 15-of-17 face-offs and collected a season-high 16 ground balls. He also scored the sixth goal of the game, which counted as the eventual game-winner in the 10-5 victory over the Crusaders.
In the 2009 season-finale against then-No. 3 Duke, DeNapoli tallied his first career-hat trick to post a career-high of points and goals in a game. For the season, the senior collected 119 ground balls -- a single-season best -- and 18 caused turnovers. He tallied a .532 win percentage as the Red Storm's leading face-off specialist.
Career-wise, DeNapoli tallied 258 ground balls, 40 caused turnovers 10 goals, five assists and a face-off percentage of .480.
