Notre Dame leads the way with seven first-team selections

USAFA, Colo. – The Great Western Lacrosse League announced its 2009 all-conference teams, along with its annual individual awards for Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Coach of the Year. The individual awards and all-conference teams were voted on by the league’s six head coaches.

Notre Dame led the way with eight total all-conference honors, including seven first-team selections. Ohio State landed seven players on the All-GWLL squads with two first-teamers, while Air Force garnered six all-league selections, including three first-team honorees. Denver had the remaining first-team selection and two total all-conference selections. Meanwhile, Bellarmine and Quinnipiac each had one player represented on the all-conference teams.

The unanimous selection as 2009 GWLL Player of the Year award was Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Scott Rodgers. Rodgers, a native of Wantagh, N.Y., ranks first in the nation in goals against average (6.25) and second nationally in save percentage (.655). With his strong performance between the pipes, Rodgers has led the Fighting Irish to an unblemished 13-0 record and 5-0 mark in the GWLL in his first year as a starter. A two-time GWLL Player of the Week and Tewaraaton Trophy nominee, Rodgers has not allowed more than nine goals all season and registered a career-high 20 saves in a 13-8 victory over Penn State.

Air Force freshman defenseman Dayton Gilbreath was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year. A native of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Gilbreath has started all but two games for the Falcons this season and is the team’s top cover defender. Among the team leaders in caused turnovers, Gilbreath has helped the Falcons hold their opponents to under nine goals per contest and less than eight goals per game in conference play. In addition, Gilbreath is one of four Air Force long poles to score this season, registering a goal and an assist on the year.

Finally, GWLL Coach of the Year honors went to Notre Dame’s Kevin Corrigan, who has led his team to a perfect 13-0 overall record (5-0 in the league) as the Irish remain the lone undefeated Division I team in the nation. Among Notre Dame’s key victories are wins over No. 7 North Carolina, No. 13 Loyola and No. 17 Bucknell. Meanwhile, the second-ranked Irish have now gone undefeated in the GWLL eight times, as Notre Dame has captured its 12th GWLL regular-season title and its eighth outright conference title.

2009 GWLL Awards
Individual Awards
Newcomer of the Year: Dayton Gilbreath, Air Force
Player of the Year: Scott Rodgers, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame

ALL-GWLL TEAMS

First Team
Attack
Joel Dalgarno, Sr., Ohio State
Ryan Hoff, Sr., Notre Dame
Duncan Swezey, Sr., Notre Dame

Midfield
Peter Christman, Sr., Notre Dame
Grant Krebs, Jr., Notre Dame
Griffin Nevitt, Sr., Air Force

Long-Stick Midfielder
Dan Gnazzo, Sr., Air Force

Defense
Sam Barnes, Jr., Notre Dame
Dayton Gilbreath, Fr., Air Force
Scott Matthews, Sr., Ohio State
Regis McDermott, Sr., Notre Dame
Dillon Roy, Jr., Denver

Goalie
Scott Rodgers, Sr., Notre Dame

Second Team
Attack
Ridge Flick, Jr., Air Force
Neal Hicks, Jr., Notre Dame
Jeff Ryan, Sr., Ohio State

Midfield
James Green, Jr., Ohio State
Derek Hopcroft, Jr., Bellarmine
Joey Murray, Sr., Denver

Long-Stick Midfielder
Bryan Gilbreath, So., Air Force

Defense
Pat Elliott, Sr., Quinnipiac
Scott Foreman, Jr., Ohio State
Matt Kawamoto, So., Ohio State
David Mackintosh, Sr., Air Force

Goalie
Brandon Freeman, Jr., Ohio State