Conference Carolinas Announces All-Conference Men’s Lacrosse Honors
High Point, N.C. - Conference Carolinas All-Conference Men’s Lacrosse Teams were determined by vote from each head coach of participating institutions. Nominations are collected and then voted upon by ballot and tallied to determine First Team, Second Team, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year award winners. Awards are announced during Conference Tournament Championships. This year's award winners are as follows:
Co-Offensive Players of the Year:
Mike Messenger - Limestone College
Junior midfielder Mike Messenger (Surry, British Columbia) has been named Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season as he currently leads Conference Carolinas with 42 goals scored. Ranking eighth in the country with 2.8 goals per game, he has scored at least one goal in 13 contests this year and has posted four or more goals seven times during the 2015 campaign. He has hit the five-goal mark on four different occasions this season.
Reid Reinholdt – Limestone College
Junior midfielder Reid Reinholdt (Port Moody, British Columbia) was also selected as Conference Carolinas Co-Offensive Player of the Year as he has chipped in 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 total points for the defending National Champions. He ranks in the conference’s Top-3 in both assists and points and has registered at least one point in 15 straight games this year. He finished with a career-high seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) against Pfeiffer.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Devin Cruz - Belmont Abbey College
Devin Cruz is the first player in program history to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors. Covering the opposing team’s top offensive threat, he leads the league in caused turnovers and is second in ground balls. He is ranked fifth nationally in caused turnovers per game as he anchors a defense that has allowed the second fewest goals in the league.
Freshman of the Year:
Harley Whitham – Belmont Abbey College
Harley Whitham is the fifth player in the ten year history of the Belmont Abbey men’s lacrosse program to earn Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year honors. The freshman goalkeeper has started all 14 games and has made 132 saves, including a career-best 19 in his first collegiate game, an 11-8 win over Florida Southern in the season opener. He has posted double digit saves seven times.
Coach of the Year:
J.B. Clarke, Limestone College
Head Coach JB Clarke was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season after guiding the Saints to a ninth straight regular season title. He is 34-0 all-time against league opponents during his five years at the helm of the Blue and Gold, and guided Limestone to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship. Under his tutelage this season, the Saints lead the nation in scoring offense with 18 goals per game and are ninth in scoring defense with 7.93 goals allowed per game.
Regular Season Champion:
Limestone College
All-Conference First Team:
Attack
Kyle Rhatigan – Limestone College
Matt Shields – University of Mount Olive
Eddie Renaud – Pfeiffer University
Riley Quinlan – Belmont Abbey College
Vinny Ricci – Limestone College
Midfield
Mike Messenger – Limestone College
Reid Reinholdt – Limestone College
Matt Michaeli – Pfeiffer University
Long Pole Midfielder
Devin Cruz, Belmont Abbey College
Specialist
Kevin Reisman, Limestone College
Defense
Peter Papaleonti – Limestone College
Luke Morris – University of Mount Olive
Tyler Gaulton – Limestone College
Goalkeeper
Patrick Sheridan – Limestone College
Ross Bowman – University of Mount Olive
All-Conference Second Team:
Attack
Brett Kingston – University of Mount Olive
Mike Triolo – Pfeiffer University
Ryan Maciejewski – Limestone College
Connor Sellars – Belmont Abbey College
Midfield
Jake Duarte – University of Mount Olive
Joey McGinley – Belmont Abbey College
Colton Watkinson – Limestone College
Derek Thomas – Pfeiffer University
Alex Tindall – University of Mount Olive
Long Pole Midfielder
PJ White, Limestone College
Specialist
Tyler Feniello – University of Mount Olive
Defense
David Lehman – Pfeiffer University
Clay Wade – Pfeiffer University
James Gilman – Belmont Abbey College
Goalkeeper
Harley Whitham – Belmont Abbey College