Five Bulldogs Earn All-Great Western Lacrosse League Honors

May 11, 2006

Five Butler players capped the 2006 season by earning All-Great Western Lacrosse League honors, the GWLL office announced Thursday (May 11). Seniors Steve Forsythe and Gary Gambarani, junior Carlos Navarro, sophomore Cliff Smith and freshman Jeremy Sieverts each got nods on the league's second team. The GWLL's six head coaches voted on the awards.

Forsythe, from Dublin, Ohio, and Gambarani, from Annapolis, Md., were recognized on the league's second-team defensive unit. The senior captains return to the all-league listing after earning accolades in 2005 as well. Forsythe missed the first two games of the season before returning to start the final 12 contests. He posted 36 ground balls and an assist. Gambarani was the only Bulldog to start all 14 games in 2006. He picked up 33 ground balls on the year.

Navarro was the league's second-team long stick midfielder, returning to action in 2006 after missing all of the 2005 campaign due to injury. The Dallas, Texas native's 57 ground balls trailed only senior Phil Brauch (62) for the team lead. Navarro had one assist on the season.

Smith, from Surrey, B.C., entered the 2006 campaign as the Bulldogs' top returning scorer. He didn't disappoint this season, posting 31 goals and six assists, as he made the transition from the midfield to attack. He was among the GWLL leaders in almost every offensive statistical category, including man-up goals (seven) and shots (101). He started 13 of the team's 14 contests. Smith scored at least one goal in 13 of the team's 14 games this season and found the net more than once on nine occasions, including seven contests with at least three tallies.

Sieverts burst onto the scene after a standout prep career at the McDonogh School in Lutherville, Md. His 16 goals trailed only Smith, while his nine assists were good for the team lead. He also fired 69 shots and had 25 ground balls. Four of the midfielder's goals came in extra-man situations.

Geoff Snider and Jamie Munro of GWLL champion Denver won the league's "Player of the Year" and "Coach of the Year" awards, respectively. Ohio State's Joel Delgarno earned "Newcomer of the Year" honors.