2019 #AEMLAX Annual Awards Handed out on Eve of League Championship
STONY BROOK, N.Y. — After capturing its first outright #AEMLAX regular-season title since 2012, Stony Brook claimed two of the conference’s four major awards highlighting the league’s 2019 award winners as they were announced Wednesday evening at an awards reception. The Seawolves’ Ryland Rees was named Defensive Player of the Year while head coach Jim Nagle earned Coach of the Year accolades, while UAlbany’s Jakob Patterson took home Offensive Player of the Year recognition and Vermont’s David Closterman picked up Rookie of the Year honors.
The 2019 #AEMLAX awards, along with the All-Conference teams, were determined in a vote by the league's seven head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Complete Awards Listing
Offensive Player of the Year
Jakob Patterson, Jr., Attackman, UAlbany
- Third-straight Great Dane to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors.
- Leads the conference in points per game (4.2 ppg), is second in assists (2.3 apg) and ninth in goals per game (1.9 gpg).
- Has totaled 54 points on 24 goals and 30 assists this season.
- Three-time America East Offensive Player of the Week this season.
- A first-team All-Conference choice.
Defensive Player of the Year
Ryland Rees, Sr., Longstick Midfielder, Stony Brook
- The first Seawolf to earn Defensive Player of the Year accolades in the four-year history of the award and just the second field player to earn the honor.
- A senior long stick defensive midfielder, Rees is one of just three players to rank in the league’s top 10 in both ground balls and caused turnovers.
- Leads a Stony Brook defensive unit that ranks second in the conference allowing just over 10 goals per game.
- Also earned first-team All-Conference honors for the third time.
Rookie of the Year
David Closterman, Fr., Attackman, Vermont
- Fourth Catamount to win the honor and first since 2014,
- The freshman attack’s 1.75 goals per game ranks 10th best overall in the league, while his 2.58 goals per game are 12th.
- Has totaled 31 points on 21 goals and 10 assists so far this season.
- A three-time America East Rookie of the Week this season.
- Also earned All-Rookie and second-team All-Conference recognition.
Coach of the Year
Jim Nagle, Stony Brook
- Selected Coach of the Year for the second time and first time since 2012.
- Led the Seawolves to their first outright America East regular-season title since 2012 and the No. 1 seed for the first time in seven seasons.
- The 9-5 Seawolves have won three in a row and six of their last seven games entering the championship.
- In his eighth season as Stony Brook head coach.
Twenty-six players earned All-Conference recognition while 10 were All-Rookie choices and 10 also garnered All-Academic recognition.
The 2019 America East Men's Lacrosse Championship takes place at Stony Brook’s Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and begins Thursday with semifinal action as No. 2 Vermont takes on No. 3 UAlbany at 4:30 p.m. followed by No. 1 Stony Brook taking on No. 4 UMBC at 7 p.m. The two winners will face off for the league title on Saturday, May 4 at 12 p.m. The semifinals will air on AmericaEast.TV with the title game on ESPNU.
Stay up-to-date on the tournament by visiting Championship Central for streaming and live stats links as well as box scores, highlights and recaps following each round in addition to team information, tournament history and more.
Follow @AmericaEast and @AEDigitalNet on Twitter to get the real-time championship updates. Use the #AEChamps and #AEMLAX hashtags to join the conversation.
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