Following a vote by the conference's eight head coaches, the Liberty League has announced the 2024 Men's Lacrosse Major Awards and All-League teams.
Offensive Player of the Year: Judge Murphy, Senior, Attack, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University senior Judge Murphy was named the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year. Murphy leads the Saints in scoring this season with 56 goals and 25 assists for a team-high 81 points. He has tallied five game-winning goals on the year and scooped up 35 ground balls, good for fourth on the team. Murphy paces the conference in shots per game at 9.12 while ranking second in points per game (4.76), and third in goals per game (3.29). Murphy is also among the top 10 in assists per game (T-8th, 1.47). Nationally, he is tied for 40th in points per game. He was the first player in Saints lacrosse history to be added to the Tewaarton Award Watch List. Murphy surpassed 200 career points on March 30th; he currently ranks seventh on the St. Lawrence all-time scoring list with 227 points and is third in goals with 146.
Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Grace, Senior, Defense, Rochester Institute of Technology
For the eighth consecutive season, a RIT men’s lacrosse player has been recognized with Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year honors. Senior Michael Grace garners the accolades in 2024 as the defender leads the Tigers in caused turnovers with 17 while ranking second in ground balls with 83, good for sixth in the conference. Through 19 games, he averages 4.37 ground balls per game, eighth among league leaders. He anchors the RIT defense that has held opponents to 9.78 goals per game. Grace also has a hand in the Tigers’ offense, netting six goals and dishing out four assists for 10 points on the year.
Rookie of the Year: Daniel Mahoney, Attack, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University attack Daniel Mahoney was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. He hit the ground running in his first year with the Saints, recording at least a point in all 13 games he’s appeared in this season. Mahoney is third among the Saints in points (31) and goals (24). He also recorded seven assists to go along with 27 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Despite missing four games due to an injury, the three-time Rookie of the Week selection scored 10 goals in four conference games and was ninth among the league’s top 10 in goals per game (2.50).
Coaching Staff of the Year: St. Lawrence University – Head Coach Mike Mahoney; Assistant Coaches Tom Ryan and John O’Connor
St. Lawrence head coach Mike Mahoney and his staff were tabbed Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the conference’s head coaches. They have directed the Saints to a 14-3 overall record and a 6-1 mark against league foes this season. As a team, St. Lawrence is third in the conference in goals per game (12.65) and fourth in points per game (19.29). They are also second in face-off percentage at .660, fourth in ground balls per game with 36.94 and fifth in caused turnovers per game at 8.76. The Saints earned the second seed of the Liberty League tournament for the first time since 2021 and despite falling in the semifinals, they earned an at-large bid to the 2024 Division III NCAA Tournament. It is the Saints’ third trip to NCAAs since 2017.