Big Ten Men's LAX Awards

[ChrisNalwasky]

Big Ten Announces Men’s Lacrosse Postseason Honors

Maryland’s Connor Kelly named Offensive Player of the Year; Scarlet Knights’ Michael Rexrode earns Defensive Player of the Year honors; Nittany Lions’ Gerard Arceri named Specialist of the Year; Ohio State’s Justin Inacio claims Freshman of the Year recognition; Maryland’s John Tillman and Ohio State’s Nick Myers share Coach of the Year honors



ROSEMONT, Ill. – The 2018 Big Ten men's lacrosse All-Conference teams and individual award winners were announced on Tuesday, with Maryland’s Connor Kelly earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors from the conference's coaches. The Scarlet Knights’ Michael Rexrode was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year, Penn State’s Gerard Arceri earned Specialist of the Year honors, while the Buckeyes’ Justin Inacio was named Freshman of the Year. Maryland’s John Tillman and Ohio State’s Nick Myers received Big Ten Co-Coach of the Year honors.



Kelly led the Big Ten with 5.08 points per game. The senior averaged 2.77 goals, 2.31 assists and 9.38 shots per outing. He enters the postseason with 36 total goals, 30 assists and 66 points.



Rexrode scooped up 23 groundballs and caused seven turnovers during the regular season, helping anchor a Rutgers defensive unit that allowed just 8.91 goals per game in conference play.



Arceri currently leads the Big Ten with 10.36 groundballs per game and faceoff percentage (.681). Arceri was a six-time Big Ten Specialist of the Week honoree this season.



Inacio ranks third in the Big Ten in groundballs per game (3.31) and faceoff percentage (.601). Inacio claimed Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Big Ten Specialist of the Week honors once during the regular season.



Tillman led Maryland to 11 regular-season wins and the outright Big Ten Championship with a 4-1 conference record. The title marks Maryland’s fourth conference championship. The top-seeded Terrapins enter the Big Ten Tournament having won six of their last seven games and are ranked No. 2 in the USILA coaches’ poll.



Myers mentored Ohio State to an 8-6 overall record, and a third place Big Ten finish with a 3-2 conference record. The No. 3-seeded Buckeyes enter the Big Ten Tournament having won three games in a row, including defeating then-No. 1 ranked Maryland. Ohio State is currently ranked No. 15 in the USILA coaches’ poll.



The All-Big Ten first team features Johns Hopkins’ Joel Tinney, Maryland’s Connor Kelly and Jared Bernhardt, Michigan’s Brent Noseworthy, Ohio State’s Ryan Terefenko and Ben Randall, Penn State’s Gerard Arceri and Mac O’Keefe and Rutgers’ Jules Heningburg and Michael Rexrode.



The Big Ten also announced six Sportsmanship Award Honorees. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the students must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. This season's honorees are Johns Hopkins' Brinton Valis, Maryland’s Adam DiMillo, Michigan’s Parker McKee, Ohio State’s John Kelly, Penn State’s Tripp Traynor and Rutgers’ Casey Rose.



The complete list of All-Conference honorees and individual award winners is below.



First Team All-Big Ten

Joel Tinney, Johns Hopkins, Midfield, Sr.

Jared Bernhardt, Maryland, Attack, So.

Connor Kelly, Maryland, Midfield, Sr.

Brent Noseworthy, Michigan, Midfield, Jr.

Ben Randall, Ohio State, Defense, Sr.

Ryan Terefenko, Ohio State, Midfield, So.

Gerard Arceri, Penn State, Midfield, So.

Mac O’Keefe, Penn State, Attack, So.

Jules Heningburg, Rutgers, Attack, Sr.

Michael Rexrode, Rutgers, Defense, Sr.



Second Team All-Big Ten

Patrick Foley, Johns Hopkins, Defense, Jr.

Shack Stanwick, Johns Hopkins, Attack, Sr.

Cole Williams, Johns Hopkins, Attack, So.

Curtis Corley, Maryland, Defense, Jr.

Dan Morris, Maryland, Goalie, Sr.

Bryce Young, Maryland, Defense, Sr.

Tre LeClaire, Ohio State, Attack/Midfield, So.

Colby Kneese, Penn State, Goalie, So.

Chris Sabia, Penn State, Defense, Jr.

Christian Mazzone, Rutgers, Midfield, Sr.



Offensive Player of the Year: Connor Kelly, Maryland, Midfield, Sr.

Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Rexrode, Rutgers, Defense, Sr.

Freshman of the Year: Justin Inacio, Ohio State, Midfield

Specialist of the Year: Gerard Arceri, Penn State, Midfield, So.

Co-Coach of the Year: John Tillman, Maryland & Nick Myers, Ohio State



Sportsmanship Honorees

Brinton Valis, Johns Hopkins, Midfield, Sr.

Adam DiMillo, Maryland, Midfield, Sr.

Parker McKee, Michigan, Midfield, Sr.

John Kelly, Ohio State, Midfield, Sr.

Tripp Traynor, Penn State, Midfield, Sr.

Casey Rose, Rutgers, Midfield, Jr.

 

[bigmatt718]

When does the All American selections take place? Heningburg and Rexrode are very likely to be named All Americans. I think Edelmann should've gotten 2nd team B1G goalie over Kneese of PSU.

 

[Caliknight]

Congrats to both players, along with Christian Mazzone who was named second team. Well deserved all the way around.

 

[bigmatt718]

Congrats to both players, along with Christian Mazzone who was named second team. Well deserved all the way around.

Edelmann got robbed. He should've gotten it over Kneese.

 

[ChrisNalwasky]

From RU

Michael Rexrode Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Three Named All-Conference


PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men’s lacrosse had three All-Conference players as the Big Ten announced its postseason awards on Tuesday. Michael Rexrode was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Rexrode and Jules Heningburg were named First Team All-Big Ten. Christian Mazzone was named Second Team All-Big Ten. Casey Rose was the team’s Sportsmanship Honoree.


Rexrode was named First Team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive season. The senior garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors after starting all 14 games with 23 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. The Leesburg, Va. native was a Senior CLASS Award Finalist, member of the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, and 2nd round draft pick of the Florida Launch in the Major League Lacrosse Draft. A team captain, Rexrode anchored Rutgers’ defense, which led the Big Ten with 6.4 caused turnovers per game this season.


“I am very excited for Michael as he has started every game during his four-year career and has always matched up against the opponent’s best offensive player,” head coach Brian Brecht said. “He has been an exceptional student ambassador and a true leader of our program throughout his four years here.”


Heningburg led the Scarlet Knights, posting 36 goals and 33 assists for 69 points. The Maplewood, N.J. native led the Big Ten in assists and points, and was second in goals. For his career, he is second all-time at Rutgers in points (204), seventh on goals (116) and 10th in assists (88). The team captain was named all-conference for the second time in his career, also earning First Team All-Big Ten accolades as a sophomore in 2016. The senior attackman and First Round MLL Draft pick has recorded a point in 36 consecutive games and scored a goal in 17 consecutive contests, with 12 multi-goal games this season.


“I am extremely proud of Jules and the player he has become throughout his career,” Brecht said. “He has gotten better each year and is having his best season during his senior year, both on the field and as a leader of our program.”


Mazzone was a presence at all ends of the field for the Scarlet Knights. The senior midfielder set a career-high with 28 goals, nine assists and 37 points, while also adding 34 ground balls and causing eight turnovers. The Stony Brook, N.Y. native had 11 multi-goal games, scoring 12 goals in the five Big Ten games. He currently has the second-longest goal scoring streak for a midfielder in the nation, having scored in every game this season.


“I’m excited because of all the effort and hard work and passion that Christian plays with, that he was recognized as all-conference player," Brecht said. "A fierce competitor, he has been dedicated in not only developing his game, but helping our program develop throughout his career."


Rose had 20 goals and seven assists for a career-best 27 points. The redshirt junior midfielder from Salt Lake City Utah collected a career-high 16 ground balls.