VILLANOVA, Pa. – The University of Denver men's lacrosse program claimed four of the six major BIG EAST end of season awards on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's conference quarterfinals at Villanova.
Junior defenseman
Jimmy Freehill was the unanimous BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year,
Alec Stathakis was the unanimous BIG EAST Specialist of the Year,
Malcolm Kleban was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach
Matt Brown, along with the rest of his staff was named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
Long stick midfielder
AJ Mercurio and attackman
Michael Lampert joined Freehill, Stathakis and Kleban on the All-BIG EAST First Team. Mercurio was a unanimous selection.
Midfielder
Richie Connell, defenseman
Jack DiBenedetto and short stick defensive midfielders
Jake Edinger and
Casey Wilson were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Freehill ranked 42
nd in the country and fourth in the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game, leading the fifth-ranked scoring defense in the country in the category. The Denver junior also picked up 15 ground balls in the five-game BIG EAST slate, including at least four in each of Denver's last three contests. Freehill had multiple caused turnovers in five games this season, including four in BIG EAST play and a career-high six at Villanova.
Stathakis ranks fifth in the country and first in the conference in faceoff winning percentage, controlling at 61.4% this season. The fifth-year faceoff man is also 12
th in the country and leads the BIG EAST in ground balls, picking up 7.46 per game. Stathakis scored his first goal of the season last time out, and had three points in Denver's five BIG EAST contests.
Kleban ranks sixth in the country in goals against average and 38
th in the country in save percentage heading into this week's BIG EAST Men's Lacrosse Tournament. The Denver senior led the BIG EAST in goals against average during conference games and stopped 54.1% of the shots he faced in league play. In the season as a whole, Kleban had double digit saves in eight games, including a season-high 14 in wins against Air Force and Utah.
UP NEXT:
Denver will open the BIG EAST Men's Lacrosse Championship in the first semifinal on Thursday when the Pioneers take on the hosts and fourth-seeded Villanova. Opening faceoff on CBS Sports Network and 104.3 The Fan HD3 is set for 3:30 p.m. MT.
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