STATE COLLEGE, Pa., September 2, 2003 - The Eastern College Athletic Conference recently named eight Nittany Lions to the 2003 ECAC All-Academic Team. The team recognizes those student-athletes who have a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, have sophomore athletic and academic standing, and are significant contributors to their team's success during the season.

The list includes Penn State graduates David Smith (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron), R.J. Charles (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), Matt Zappia (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy), Brendan De Bow (Brookville, Md./DeMatha) and Bill Farrell (Forest Hill, Md./North Harford) and Nittany Lion seniors Brian Mabry (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park), B.J. Donovan (Annapolis, Md./DeMatha) and Edmond Perry (Port Washington, N.Y./Port Washington). Zappia was a senior captain for the Lions and was fifth on the squad with 30 ground balls. Some of his other post-season honors included participating in the North-South All-Star game, earning United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association honorable mention All-America honors and being named a 2003 USILA Scholar All-American. Smith, De Bow and Charles also had fulfilling years on defense for the Lions last spring as the three accumulated 25 ground balls, one goal and one assist. The Penn State defense finished with a 9.00 goals against average and was third in the conference in man-down defense holding their opponents to just 12 extra-man goals on 41 attempts.

Mabry, Donovan, Perry and Farrell round out the midfield and attack positions for the Lions. They contributed heavily to the offensive unit and helped the Nittany Lions reach their first ever NCAA postseason.

The Lions finished the 2003 season (7-6, 3-2 ECAC) and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Towson University. Penn State posted a No. 11 USILA final ranking, which is the best in head coach, Glenn Thiel's 26-year tenure at Penn State.