Cardinals place six on All-Conference Teams
WASHINGTON – The ODAC announced its All-Conference Teams on Tuesday and six Cardinals were recognized for their performance this season. Seniors Alonzo Cooke and Vinny Cortese were named to the First Team, juniors Michael O'Shea and Conor Stueckler received Second Team honors, and junior Eric Hrynczyszyn was joined by senior Rob Schaetzl on the Third Team.
A Second Team selection in 2011, Cooke earns a First Team nod after leading the Cardinals in receptions (48), receiving yards (626) and receiving touchdowns (6). Cooke ranked fourth in the ODAC in receptions/game (4.8) and receiving yards/game (62.6).
The Maryland native notched a season-best 156 receiving yards in the season opener vs. McDaniel, and he then tallied a season-high 10 receptions in CUA's win over Hampden-Sydney. Cooke caught at least five passes four times in 2012 and went over the 100-yard receiving mark three times. He wraps up his career in the red and black with 161 receptions for 2,423 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Joining Cooke on the First Team is Cortese, who totaled 47 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, and 5.5 sacks from his spot along the defensive line. Cortese ranked 36th in the conference in total tackles, fourth in sacks and eighth in tackles for loss.
The senior recorded a season-high eight tackles twice and his three tackles for loss against Guilford were a season best. Cortese notched at least two tackles for loss in three games and his 5.5 sacks led the Cardinals. A native of Connecticut, Cortese closes out his career with totals of 163 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks.
O'Shea earns his second straight All-ODAC selection, while Hrynczyszyn receives his first career honor along the O line. The pair of linemen helped pave the way for a CUA offense that averaged over 22 points and 320 yards of total offense this season.
The Cardinals surrendered only eight sacks for the entire season, which ranked second best in the ODAC behind only Washington & Lee, which threw the ball just 91 times this season, compared to 380 attempts by the Cardinals. CUA had five games this season in which it did not allow a single sack.
Stueckler had a monster season from his linebacker spot and earns his second consecutive All-Conference selection. The Maryland native racked up an impressive 114 tackles, making him the first Cardinal since 2007 with more than 100 stops. Stueckler led the ODAC in total tackles, and ranked second with an 11.4 per game average.
Stueckler posted eight games with at least 10 tackles in 2012, including a string of six straight to close out the season. He notched a career-high 19 stops vs. eventual league champion Washington & Lee and for the season he totaled four tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup.
Rounding out CUA's selections is Schaeztl, who played along the defensive line with Cortese and earns his second straight All-ODAC selection. Schaetzl finished the year with 43 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a pair of fumble recoveries.
The Massachusetts native posted a season-high nine tackles vs. Washington & Lee and finished the year with four games of at least five tackles. Schaetzl scooped up fumbles vs. Shenandoah and Bridgewater and he recorded a season-best 1.5 tackles for loss at Guilford. Schaetzl finishes his career with totals of 133 stops, 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
