OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Shawn Nally, Senior, Attack, Rochester Institute of Technology
For the third straight year, a senior from RIT has been named the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year. Shawn Nally was part of a Tigers’ offense that averaged a league-best 17.05 goals per game this season and he was tops on the team with 39 goals and 27 assists for 66 points in the regular season. Nally was third among league leaders in points (4.18) and assists per game (1.76) while ranking sixth in goals per game (2.41). He helped RIT to an 18-1 overall record and an unblemished mark of 8-0 in league play this season as well as the team’s eighth straight Liberty League title. In the league tournament, he netted two goals and handed out three assists in two games.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trevor Smyth, Senior, Longstick Midfielder, Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT senior Trevor Smyth was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. It is the fifth consecutive season that a RIT men’s lacrosse player is the recipient of this award. Smyth headlines a defensive unit that held opponents to 7.8 goals per game this season, good for third among league leaders. Against league opponents, RIT boasted a league-low 56 goals against (7.0 per game). Smyth was second on the team in caused turnovers (33) and third in ground balls (74). He also had a hand in the RIT offense with 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Cooper Urban, Attack, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI first-year Cooper Urban was recognized as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. He made an immediate impact for the Engineers this season, finishing the year third on the team in points with 60. He was also second in goals (39) and third in assists (21). The six-time Rookie of the Week selection contributed offensively with at least a point in every game this season.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Union College – Head Coach Paul Wehrum; Assistant Coaches Derek Witheford, Stefan Basile and Richard Aberle
Union head coach Paul Wehrum and his staff were named Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the league’s coaches. Wehrum, who is assisted by Derek Witheford, Stefan Basile and Richard Aberle directed the Dutchmen to an overall record of 13-3, an improvement of five wins from a year ago, and the team’s first appearance in the league’s championship game since 2015. The Dutchmen, who were predicted to finish fifth in the coaches preseason poll earned the second seed of the league tournament with a mark of 7-1 in league play. Union will also be making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2015.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM:
A- Shawn Nally, Sr., RIT
A- JT Kelly, Sr., RPI
A- Mike Donnelly, Jr., St. Lawrence
A- Owen Putman, Jr., RPI
M- Josh Della Puca, Sr., Ithaca
M- Ryan Barnable, So., RIT
M- Lucas Bastarache, Sr., RPI
M- Cam Isaac, Sr., RIT
LSM- Trevor Smyth, Sr., RIT
SSM- Brendan King, Sr., Ithaca
FO- Matthew Lowery, Jr., Vassar
D- Keaton Ackermann, Sr., RPI
D- Chandler Allen, Sr., RIT
D- Tyler Burns, Jr., St. Lawrence
D- Edward Winters, Jr., Union
G- Walker Hare, Jr., RIT
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM:
A- Connor Brumfield, So., Ithaca
A- Dawson Tait, Jr., RIT
A- Hayden Frey, So., Union
A- Michael Mullen, Jr., Vassar
M- Keaton McCann, So., Union
M- Marcus Lavarnway, Sr., Clarkson
M- Connor Till, So., Ithaca
M- Kieran McGovern, So., Union
LSM- Sean Seaberg, Sr., Ithaca
SSM- Zachary Ettinghausen, Sr., St. Lawrence
SSM- Jimmy Connolly, Jr., Union
FO- Alex Newhouse, Sr., Union
D- Jake Hall-Goldman, So., Ithaca
D- Alex Maruna, Jr., RIT
D- Liam St. Croix, Jr., Clarkson
D- Quinn Fettig, Sr., RPI
G- Jack Santilli, Sr., Union
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION:
A- Connor Caffrey, Sr., St. Lawrence
A- Conor Bartlett, Jr., Clarkson
M- Damon Currie, Jr., RIT
M- Harrison Koch, Jr., St. Lawrence
M- Alex Miller, So., Skidmore
LSM- Logan Hart, Sr., Skidmore
FO- Nick Montemorano, So., RIT
D- Brian Gannon, So., St. Lawrence
D- Ryan Puglisi, So., Union
G- Alex Terry, Jr., St. Lawrence