Edison, NJ- Iona College football junior RB Dane Samuels and sophomore LB Andrew Lipski were named MAAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Rookie of the Year to headline 14 Gael gridders named to the All-MAAC squad it was announced on Friday. Samuels becomes the first Iona football player to be named MAAC Offensive Player of the Year since Tom Proudian in 1994.

Samuels led the league in rushing, carrying the ball 158 times for 698 yards and four touchdowns this season for the Gaels. He was also first on the conference's kick return list, making 16 returns for 439 yards for the Maroon and Gold. He shares the Offensive Player of the Year honor with Duquense WR Bruce Hocker.

Lipski, recorded 52 tackles, including 33 solo stops and two tackles for a loss of 11 yards. He also tallied two passes defended, one forced fumble, one interception for 19 yards and one fumble return for 35 yards for the Gaels. Lipski was Co-Rookie of the Year with Saint Peter's LB Jerome Gordon.

In addition to Samuels, senior OL Mike Rabbit and PK Chris Lofrese were named All-MAAC First team selections on the offensive side of the ball. It was the second straight year Lofrese was named to the top conference squad. Senior WR Brian Watts and classmate TE Juan Chamba were named to the All-MAAC Second Team.

Kyle Council and Nick Zaffarese, junior LB Jared Scotto, DBs Reggie Dorsainvil, Ed Loscalzo and Matt McGuire were all named to the All-MAAC First Team. DLs James McDonald and Rob Wright were Second Team selections. McDonald was a repeat selection to the All-MAAC squad for the Gaels.

Additionally, seven players were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team. In addition to their accoclades for on field performance. Lofrese, McDonald and Rabbitt were also honored for their performance in the classroom. Senior Matt Harrison, junior Rob Valletti and sophomores Sharrod Cook and Mike Manuele were also named to All-Academic list.

2006 ALL-MAAC FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Pos. Name               Yr.  Hometown
RB   Dane Samuels       Jr.  New City, NY
OL   Mike Rabbitt       Sr.  Bayonne, NJ
PK   Chris LoFrese^     Sr.  Middletown, NY
		
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Pos. Name               Yr.  Hometown/Last School
DL   Kyle Council       Sr.  Brooklyn, NY
     Nick Zaffarese     Sr.  Wayne, NJ
LB   Andrew Lipski      So.  Miller Place, NY
     Jared Scotto       Jr.  Staten Island, NY
DB   Reggie Dorsainvil  Jr.  Spring Valley, NY
     Ed Loscalzo        Jr.  Seaford, NY
     Matt McGuire       So.  Clifton, NJ

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Pos. Name               Yr.  Hometown/Last School
WR   Brian Watts        Sr.  Niskayuna, NY
TE   Juan Chamba        Sr.  Portchester, NY

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Pos. Name               Yr.  Hometown/Last School
DL   James McDonald@    Jr.  Bayport, NY
     Rob Wright         Jr.  Poughkeepsie, NY

^ = 2005 First Team All-MAAC Selection
@ = 2005 Second Team All-MAAC Selection

2006 MAAC Offensive Co-Players of the Year: 
  Bruce Hocker, Duquesne, Dane Samuels, Iona
2006 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year:
  Michael Hill, Duquesne
2006 MAAC Offensive Rookie of the Year:
  Dhamiri Wilson, Saint Peter's
2006 MAAC Defensive Co-Rookies of the Year:
  Andrew Lipski, Iona, Jerome Gordon, Saint Peter's
2006 Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year:
  Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne 

2006 MAAC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Sharrod Cook     So. 	Undecided   3.45  Brooklyn, NY
Matt Harrison    Sr. 	Finance     3.31  Floral Park, NY
Chris Lofrese    Sr.	Finance	    3.82  Middletown, NY
Mike Manuele     So.	Undecided   3.70  Hawthorne, NY
James McDonald   Jr.	Management  3.30  Bayport, NY
Mike Rabbitt     Sr.	Finance     3.22  Bayonne, NJ
Rob Valletti     Jr.	Management  3.73  Valley Stream, NY

--GAELS--