ITHACA, N.Y. – For the first time since 1987, a member of the Cornell men's lacrosse team has won the USILA's Jack Turnbull Award as the outstanding attackman in Division I, as Rob Pannell was announced the winner this morning. He becomes just the seventh sophomore in the 64-year history of the award to take home the honor.

Pannell joins an elite list, becoming the fourth Cornell player to win the Turnbull Award, joining Eamon McEneaney '77, Mike French '76, and Tim Goldstein '87.

Pannell is also the fifth player coached by Jeff Tambroni to win one of the USILA major awards, joining Max Seibald '09 (Lt. j.g. Donald MacLaughlin, Jr. Award – Outstanding DI Midfielder), Joe Boulukos '06 (Lt. j.g. Donald MacLaughlin, Jr. Award – Outstanding DI Midfielder), Mitch Belisle '07 (Schmeisser Cup – Outstanding DI Defenseman) and Matt McMonagle '07 (Ens. C.M. Kelly Jr. Award – Outstanding DI Goaltender).

One of the recent greats in a tradition-rich lacrosse program, Pannell was named first-team All-American when the teams were announced yesterday. The reigning Ivy League Player of the Year, the sophomore attackman is currently ranked first in the nation in points per game (4.59) and is second overall in assists per game (2.88). A Tewaaraton Trophy nominee and a two-time Ivy League Player of the Week selection, he has registered five or more points in eight of the Big Red's 17 games and owns the fifth longest point-scoring streak in the nation, having registered a point in every game of his collegiate career (34 games). Earlier this season, Pannell tallied his 100th career point in just his 25th career game, becoming the fastest Cornell player to reach 100 career points since Tim Goldstein tallied 100 points in a single season over the span of 14 games in 1987. He currently ranks fifth in Cornell history in career assists with 91 and needs just six more points to move into the career points category. This season, he has registered the fourth most assists in a single season in Big Red history (49) and the 10th most points (78).

Pannell and the Big Red are preparing for their third Final Four appearance in four years when it takes on Notre Dame on Saturday, May 29 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., at 4 p.m.