June 10, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass junior attacker Tim Balise has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Second Team for at-large sports, which includes lacrosse. Balise, who has a 4.0 GPA in Psychology, is UMass' first Academic All-American since Harold Drumm, who was a second-team member in 1998.

Balise, was earlier named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Men's At-Large First-Team. Balise is now eligible to become an Academic All-American. Balise was the lone member of that team with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Balise led UMass with 33 goals and 39 points. He topped the ECAC in goals and ranked tied for fourth in total points. He is tied for 16th in total goals in NCAA (33) and tied for 17th in NCAA in goals per game (2.36). Balise led team with four man-up goals and was seventh on team in groundballs with 22. He had ten multi-goal games and 13 multi-point games in 2008 and goals and points in 13 of 14 games this season. He was named ECAC Co-Offensive Player of Week three times in 2008: on Feb. 25, April 7 and April 28.