Following a vote by the conference's eight head coaches, the Liberty League has revealed the 2023 Men's Lacrosse Major Awards and All-League teams.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Luke Pilcher, Senior, Attack, Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT senior Luke Pilcher was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year and he is the fifth Tiger to garner the accolades in the last six seasons. Pilcher leads the team and the league in points (72), points per game (4.24), and goals (48). He is second in goals per game (2.89), fifth in assists (26), and eighth in assists per game (1.87). He has recorded at least a point in all 19 games so far this season and tallied a career-high nine points on April 29. In two Liberty League postseason games, he netted seven goals and handed out a pair of assists for nine points en route to RIT's 11th straight league title.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Taylor Jensen, Senior, Longstick Midfielder, Rochester Institute of Technology
For the second straight year, RIT longstick midfielder Taylor Jensen earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. This year, Jensen headlines a defense that holds opponents to 9.84 goals per game. He paces the team and is among the league's top ten in ground balls and ground balls per game at 73 (4th) and 3.84 (9th) respectively. He has helped offensively with seven points on three goals and four assists. The Liberty League Tournament's Most Outstanding Performer for the second consecutive year, Jensen caused eight turnovers, picked up eight ground balls, scored a goal, and added an assist in two games to help the Tigers claim their 11th straight league title.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Cooper Manzi, First-Year, Attack, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
For the second year in a row, a first-year from RPI has been recognized as Rookie of the Year. Attack Cooper Manzi is this year's award winner and he made an immediate impact for the Engineers, finishing the year second on the team in goals (30), points (46), shots (102), and shots on goal (59). He was also among the top seven in assists with 16 (3rd), caused turnovers with 11 (4th), and ground balls with 24 (7th). The five-time Rookie of the Week selection produced at least two points in all 16 games this season, including two games with four points and two games with five points.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rochester Institute of Technology – Head Coach Jake Coon; Assistant Coaches Shawn Wilkins, Donny Moss, Austin Fox, Beau Riley, and Nate Farrell
RIT head coach Jake Coon and his staff were recognized with Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in a vote by the league's head coaches. They have guided the Tigers to an overall record of 18-1 and an unblemished mark of 7-0 in league play this season. RIT paces the league in scoring, averaging 16.47 goals per game, ranking them 20th in Division III, and they have allowed 9.84 goals per game. The two-time defending national champions won its 11th straight Liberty League title, and the Tigers will be making their 13th consecutive as well as 24th overall NCAA tournament appearance. RIT is in the midst of a 13-game winning streak heading into NCAAs.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
A- Jake Erickson, Sr., Ithaca
A- Clifford Gaston, So., RIT
A- Luke Pilcher, Sr., RIT
M- Zach Davis, Jr., Union
M- John Mozrall, Jr., RIT
M- Bryan Penney, Gr., Clarkson
D- Michael Grace, Jr., RIT
D- Demetri Lowry, Gr., Ithaca
D- Joe Scarfi, Gr., St. Lawrence
SSM- Jake Titus, Sr., Union
SSM- Sean Traynor, Gr., RIT
LSM- Taylor Jensen, Gr., RIT
FO- Paddy Condon, So., St. Lawrence
G- Joseph Perry, So., RPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
A- Ben Hutchinson, Jr., St. Lawrence
A- Charlie McFadden, Jr., Skidmore
A- Judge Murphy, Jr., St. Lawrence
A-Luke Murphy, Sr., RPI
M- Stew Hutchinson, Gr., St. Lawrence
M- Peter Kip, Jr., Union
M- Anthony Mazzella, Sr., RPI
D- Clint Gourdeau, Sr., Union
D- Caleb Oswari, Jr., RPI
D- Matt Szwagulinski, Jr., Clarkson
SSM- Noah Bruno, Sr., RIT
SSM- Owen O'Brien, Jr., St. Lawrence
LSM- Devon Boyko, Sr., RPI
FO- Matthew Paolatto, Jr., Union
FO- Angelo Venuto, Jr., RPI
G- Dan Donahue, Jr., Union
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
A- Sebastian Geiger, Sr., Clarkson
M- Seth Grottenthaler, Jr., RIT
M- Matt Reilly, Jr., Clarkson
SSM- Max Heberlein, So., Skidmore
D- Zach Gagnon, Gr., RIT
D- Solomon Hess, Jr., Vassar
G- Collin Kuester, So., Skidmore