Winter Park’s Sergio Salcido – Tewaaraton Finalist and Now ACC Offensive Player of the Year!
via press release
Author’s Note – The success that Sergio has attained as a walk on at one of the most storied programs in lacrosse history is one that all of us in Florida need to stand and applaud. It’s really hard to think of another walk-on in the modern lacrosse era that has achieved at the level he has. One thing he certainly has accomplished is to help Florida kids gain a level of credibility at the national level. We have had that in the past with the Bernhardts, Lee Coppersmith, Matt Bellando, Chris Selva and a number of others but this is truly a special story, and one that most of us in the lacrosse media have not fully appreciated. In the Syracuse-UNC game a few weeks back the ESPNU crew of Quint and Anish took some time to talk it up and all of us need to do so more.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Syracuse red-shirt senior midfielder Sergio Salcido has been named the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, and North Carolina senior defenseman Austin Pifani is this year’s Defensive Player of the Year. Virginia freshman attacker Michael Kraus has been named the ACC Freshman of the Year, while Syracuse’s John Desko is the ACC Coach of the Year for the third straight season.
Salcido, a two-time All-ACC selection, leads the league in assists per game with 2.31 and ranks tied for ninth nationally in that category. The Winter Park, Florida, native owns 45 points this season on 15 goals and 30 assists. His 30 assists are the third most in program history by a midfielder in a single season. Eight of his goals have come in league play, including two game winners in in the Orange’s 14-13 win over Virginia and in a 12-11 overtime win at North Carolina to help Syracuse finished ACC play 4-0.
Pifani, also a two-time All-ACC selection, has helped the Tar Heel defense to hold it opponents to 10.13 goals per game. Pifani owns 31 ground balls and 21 caused turnover this season while helping North Carolina to its ninth ACC Championship in program history and first since 2013.
Virginia rookie attackman and All-ACC Team member Kraus has played in all 15 games, while starting in 13. He ranks third overall in points with 56 on 34 goals and 22 assists and points per game (3.73). The New Canaan, Connecticut, native’s points per game average is the fourth best nationally among all Division I freshmen. Kraus recorded a season-high five goals on two occasions this season, including against Notre Dame on March 18.
Desko’s Syracuse squad posted a perfect 4-0 record in ACC play, while winning all four league games by a one-goal margin. The Orange were the consensus No. 1 team in the nation three weeks and currently sit at No. 3 in both the USILA and Maverik Media Poll. With a No. 2 NCAA RPI ranking heading into the final weekend of regular season play, the Orange looks to make its 37th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 18th under Desko’s watch. He is the first coach in ACC Men’s Lacrosse history to collect Coach of the Year honors three consecutive seasons (2015, 2016, 2017).
2017 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Sergio Salcido, R-Sr., M, Syracuse
Defensive Player of the Year – Austin Pifani, Sr., D, North Carolina
Freshman of the Year – Michael Kraus, Fr., A, Virginia
Coach of the Year – John Desko, Syracuse
