Salcuni leads trio of Hogs named to All-Conference team

The Hogs’ post-season honors were anchored by the defense, with two of the team’s starting longpoles receiving All-Conference nods, but only one player on Humboldt’s roster contributed to nearly every statistic and category in the game of lacrosse.

Defenseman Jeremy Sami, who last played in the MCLA for St. Mary’s in 2013, received top team honors by being named to the WCLL Second Team All-Conference. A lockdown defenseman from Daly City, Sami grabbed 34 groundballs this year — second on the team only to Logan Salcuni. Salcuni was joined by senior defenseman Vincent Pecoraro with WCLL All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition.

Previously a two-time all-conference defenseman, Salcuni switched to midfield this year and ending up having a season for the ages with the Hogs. By year’s end, Salcuni ended up leading the Humboldt in goals, ground balls, points per game and overall scoring, while also being the team’s leading face-off man.

“I love this team,” Salcuni said in a Facebook post. “Shout out to all my teammates for making this season such a special one. Really great, tough group of guys we have right now and we couldn’t be where we are without the incredible alumni that support us and encourage the program to continually grow.”

In the Hogs playoff game against UC Davis, Salcuni contributed to all of Humboldt’s scoring in the 17-4 loss.

If you didn’t see the game:
Logan’s first goal came 35 seconds into the match when, after winning the opening faceoff, he bowled past his defender and fired a bounce shot past the goalie, to put the Hogs ahead 1-0.

His second, around the six-minute mark of the first quarter, was against a triple-team to bring the Hogs within one. Unfortunately, Davis was able to squeak in a pair of goals right before the quarter ended, in what was a closer game than the 5-2 score indicated.

Less than 2 minutes into the second quarter, Logan was able to get free on a clear and slipped between two long poles for the hat trick, with the assist by goalie Liam Birmingham. Suddenly a three-goal game, Davis called a timeout and went on to score five unanswered, ending the half 11-3 and any hopes of a miracle comeback by the Hogs.

Despite the score, the Hogs came out fired up in the second half and scored quickly to make it 11-4, with Salcuni on the assist. Drawing five defenders this time, he instead passed to a wide-open Everaldo Coronado Galicia, who was sitting right on the crease for Humboldt’s final goal.

“UCD did not ease up until the end,” Hogs Hall of Fame coach and player Judge Taylor said after the game. “You could tell they respected Humboldt and had to give it their all to get this outcome. Davis might have had a bit more skill and depth but the Hogs had a lot more heart.”