Conference Carolinas Announces All-Conference Men’s Lacrosse Honors

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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