University of Massachusetts men’s lacrosse players Matt McFarland (Garden City, N.Y.), Don Little (Clifton Park, N.Y.), Dan Paccione (Amityville, N.Y.) and Marc Morley (Canton, N.Y.) were all selected in the 2002 Major League Lacrosse Draft held Saturday night in Lowell, Mass. Major League Lacrosse is the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league with six team located in Baltimore, Boston, Bridgeport, Conn., New Jersey, Long Island and Rochester, N.Y.
McFarland was the first Massachusetts player selected when the Long Island Lizards drafted him with the first pick in the second round (seventh overall). Little went next in the draft as the Boston Cannons selected him with the eighth overall pick. Paccione also went in the second round as Long Island selected him with the 11th overall pick. Morley rounded out the Minuteman selections when the Bridgeport Barrage selected him in the fifth round (25th overall). Massachusetts tied with national champion Syracuse and Virginia for the most players selected in the draft.
McFarland, a defenseman, finished the season ranked first on the team and ninth nationally with 102 ground balls. He also had a career-high four goals and four assists for eight points. He ended his four-year career for the Minutemen with 240 ground balls and 11 points. McFarland was named first team All-ECAC, first team All-New England and third team All-America following the regular season. This year marked the third straight season that he has earned All-America honors.
Little, a midfielder, finished the season 20 goals and eight assists for 28 points. He scored seven goals and an assist in the two NCAA Tournament games. He ended his four-year career for the Minutemen with 57 goals and 14 assists for 71 points. He was named second team All-ECAC following the season.
Paccione, an attackman and faceoff specialist, finished the season ranked third on the team in scoring with 47 points. He was also tied for third in goals with 34 and third in assists with 13. He won 86 of 157 faceoffs (.548) on the season. Paccione was named first team All-ECAC following the season. He ended his Massachusetts career with 54 goals and 16 assists for 70 points.
Morley, a attackman, led the Minutemen in scoring with 52 points. He was also first in goals with 37 and second in assists with 15. Morley scored at least two points in 14 of the 16 games this season, including three or more points 13 times. He was named first team All-ECAC, first team All-New England and honorable mention All-America. He finished his Massachusetts career with 79 goals and 39 assists for 118 points.