Joe Mele Class: Junior Hometown: Westbury, N.Y. High School: Kellenberg Memorial Height / Weight: 5-7 / 191 Position: Attack

In 2007: Was enjoying an outstanding season before suffering an ACL injury against Navy ... Prior to the injury had scored a league-high 24 goals in nine games, including five-goal games against Penn and Lafayette ... Had been named to the Tewaaraton Trophy watch list on the morning of the Navy game ... Despite missing the final six games was still named to the All-Patriot League Second Team ... Had four goals vs. Fairfield and three against Mount St. Mary's ... Finished as the Patriot League leader in goals per game (2.67) ... Registered game-winning goals against Penn and Lafayette ... Scored three man-up goals ... Had five ground balls in addition to the five goals against Penn ... In 2006: Made quick adaptation to the college game and earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors ... First Bison freshman to lead team in scoring since Chris Cara in 2002 ... Finished with 26 goals and two assists for 28 points ... Ranked second in the Patriot League in goals per game and 12th in points per game ... Named PL Rookie of the Week twice and Player of the Week once ... Biggest goal of the year was the overtime game-winner at No. 1 Maryland ... Scored game-winning goal in 7-6 win at Air Force ... Scored a big fourth-quarter goal against Holy Cross in a game Bucknell later won in OT ... Had at least one goal in 12 of 14 games ... Season-high five goals against Mount St. Mary's in second career game ... Also had hat tricks against Maryland, Air Force and Colgate ... Scored two man-down goals ... Credited with 30 ground balls ... Personal: Son of John and Winnie Mele ... Born Dec. 21, 1986 in Flushing, N.Y. ... 2005 graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School, where he played football, basketball and lacrosse ... Lax team went 8-4 in the Catholic League in both his junior and senior years ... Was league MVP in both junior and senior years ... Also named MVP in football as a senior ... Majoring in management.

Frank Fedorjaka on Mele: "Joe looks great coming off of his ACL surgery, and we expect him to be 100 percent by the Duke game [to open the season]. He worked on his shot quite a bit during his injury, and his stick skills have actually improved despite the layoff. Joe is a real excitable guy, and he is our emotional leader on offense. We will be looking for him to have a big role in our leadership this year in addition to being a starting attackman."