ALBANY, N.Y. – Regular-season champion University at Albany took home two of America East’s four major men’s lacrosse awards as the conference’s end of season honors and All-Conference teams were announced at an awards reception Wednesday evening. The Great Danes’ Blaze Riorden was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year while head coach Scott Marr earned Coach of the Year recognition. University of Vermont’s Ian MacKay and University of Hartford’s Dylan Jinks earned the final two awards, garnering Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.
The winners, along with the All-Conference teams, were determined in a vote by the league’s head coaches, who could not vote for their own players or themselves.
Blaze Riorden, a senior goalkeeper, is the conference’s first-ever Defensive Player of the year. The Tewaraaton Award nominee ranks third in the country with a .575 save percentage and sixth averaging 12.6 saves per game while compiling a 9.51 goals against average. Also the first-team All-Conference goalkeeper for the second-straight year, Riorden earned three conference Defensive Player of the Week awards this year.
Marr, in his 16th year at Albany, led his team to a 12-2 overall record and their fourth-straight America East regular-season crown in 2016. The league’s Coach of the Year for a record fifth time, Marr’s squad became the first in league history to complete four straight unbeaten league seasons. The Great Danes are currently ranked fourth in both national polls.
MacKay is the first Vermont Catamount to earn an America East Player of the Year honor in men’s lacrosse. The junior midfielder ranks third amongst league leaders averaging 4.4 points per game and tallied 38 goals and 23 assists this season. The two-time America East Offensive Player of the Week helped lead Vermont to its most wins since 2006.
Jinks is just the third Hartford Hawk and first since in 13 years to be named Rookie of the Year. The league’s top rookie point-getter, he ranks eighth amongst America East leaders averaging 3.5 points per game with 52 points on 26 goals and 26 assists. He earned three America East Rookie of the Week honors this season.
The first-team All-Conference attackers consist of Albany duo Connor Fields and Seth Oakes, who have combined for 120 points this season, along with Stony Brook’s Matt Schultz, who ranks fourth amongst league leaders averaging 4.0 points per game.
MacKay is joined in the first-team midfield by Stony Brook’s Alex Corpolongo, who’s tied for sixth in the league in goals, and Challen Rogers, the league leader in assists and a Tewwaraton Award nominee this year.
Albany’s Stone Sims heads up the first-team defenders along with UMBC’s Zach Esser, a selection for the third-straight year. Stony Brook’s Lucas Rock rounds out the trio.
The first-team specialists feature Albany’s Troy Reh, a long stick midfielder, Stony Brook’s Jeff Reh, a short stick midfielder who is a repeat choice, while Hartford’s Dylan Protesto is the faceoff specialist. His .711 faceoff win percentage is the best in the country.
The second team attackers consist of UMBC’s Nate Lewnes, the conference leader in goals, Stony Brook’s Brody Eastwood and Vermont’s Cam Milligan. Albany’s John Maloney, Binghamton’s Zach Scaduto and Stony Brook’s Chris Hughes make up the second-team middie unit and Hartford’s Chris Duffy and the Seawolves’ Dylan Curry and Ben Randall are the second-team defenders. Stony Brook’s Zach Oliveri, the league leader in GAA, is the second-team goalkeeper while Binghamton’s George Deignan (long stick midfielder), UMBC’s Steve Winsor (short stick midfielder) and Stony Brook’s Jay Lindsay (faceoff man) are the second-team specialists.
Jinks is joined on the 12-member All-Rookie team by Albany’s Jack Burgmaster, Erik Dluhy and Zach Ornstein, Binghamton’s Joe Licata, UMBC’s Jack Andrews and Billy Nolan, UMass Lowell’s Grant Lardieri and Blaine McMahon, Stony Brook’s Ryland Rees and Vermont’s Jack Knight and Dawes Milchling.
Seven of the All-Conference selections are also All-Academic honorees after excelling on the field and sustaining at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA in the classroom. Corpolongo, Fields, Duffy, Lewnes, Maloney, Rock and Scaduto are joined by Albany’s James Burdette and Kyle McClancy, Hartford’s Will Dulin, Brendan Gates, Kevin Sanna and Jake Vogl and UMass Lowell’s Will Puduski. Those selections were chosen by a committee made up of America East sports information directors, academic advisors and faculty athletic representatives.
Thirty-nine of the 52 All-Conference, All-Rookie and All-Academic sections will be in action at the 2016 America East Men’s Lacrosse Championship, which will be held at Albany’s Casey Stadium. Action begins on Thursday, May 5 with #2 Stony Brook playing #3 Vermont in the first semifinal at 4:30 p.m. and #1 Albany taking on #4 Hartford at 7:00 p.m. The championship game will be played on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. and air live on ESPNU as well as WatchESPN apps.
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