Smith Point Lifeguards

Men’s Lacrosse Athlete of the Decade – Chris DeLuca

Photo Source: Chris DeLuca

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announces its Men’s Lacrosse Athlete of the Decade, Coach of the Decade and All-Decade Team as nominated and voted on by the institution’s sports information directors.

To be eligible for the All-Decade Team, athletes must have competed in the SUNYAC at least one season during the 2009-10 academic year through 2019-20 and athletes must have been named to the All-SUNYAC team more than once or named Athlete of the Year once. Athlete and Coach of the Decade recipients were previously named SUNYAC Athlete of the Year or Coach of the Year. 

DeLuca played midfielder/faceoff for the Red Dragons from 2008-11 and was a three-time All-American. He was named the 2010 USILA Division III Player of the Year, 2011 USILA Division III Midfielder of the Year, 2010 ECAC Upstate NY Offensive Player of the Year, 2011 first team All-ECAC Upstate NY and 2009 second team All-NYS. DeLuca was the 2010 SUNYAC Player of the Year and a three-time first team All-SUNYAC selection (2009-11). During DuLuca’s time at Cortland, the team won the SUNYAC title all four years and he was named Tournament MVP three-times (2009-11). The team also won the national title in 2009 and was the national runner-up in 2008.

DeLuca’s career stats include 102 goals, 54 assists, 309 ground balls and a 68.9 faceoff percentage (564-of-818) in 77 games. He ranked fourth nationally in faceoff percentage in 2009 and seventh in 2010. He also ranks first at Cortland in career faceoff percentage (including top three single-season marks), second in faceoff wins and sixth in ground balls. (www.sunyacsports.com)

Congratulations Captain DeLuca!