May 2, 2012
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Notre Dame garnered three major awards during Wednesday’s BIG EAST Conference men’s lacrosse awards banquet. Senior Kevin Randall was named the league’s defensive player of the year, while junior John Kemp was selected goalkeeper of the year and Kevin Corrigan received the coach-of-the-year award.
A total of six Irish players were named to the all-BIG EAST first or second team. Joining Randall and Kemp on the all-league first team were Sean Rogers (Sr./A) and Jim Marlatt (So./M). Randall and Rogers were unanimous picks. Max Pfeifer (Sr./M) and Matt Miller (Jr./D) copped second-team honors.
Voting was conducted among the league’s seven head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Notre Dame claimed its first BIG EAST regular-season title with a perfect 6-0 league record this season. The second-ranked Irish are 11-1 overall and will carry a 10-game win streak into the inaugural BIG EAST Championship. Top-seeded Notre Dame will face St. John’s at 4:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday in the semifinals in Villanova, Pa. Villanova and Syracuse will square off in the other semifinal. The title game is slated for noon on Saturday. The games will be aired on ESPNU/ESPN3.
Randall (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) has been a key component of a Notre Dame defense that ranks first nationally by allowing just 5.75 goals per game. The Irish also boast the nation’s top man-down defense (.929). The team captain is a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Randall was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on March 5. This is the first all-BIG EAST citation for Randall.
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Kemp (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep) ranks first nationally in both goals-against average (5.70) and save percentage (.655). He is one of 25 nominees up for the Tewaaraton Award. Kemp was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, including twice in the last three weeks. He was the only player in the conference to be named a player of the week (either offense or defense) three times this season. Kemp received second-team all-BIG EAST honors last season.
This is Corrigan’s first BIG EAST award, but his sixth conference coach-of-the-year award overall. He was named the Great Western Lacrosse League Coach of the Year five times (1994, 1996, 2001, 2007, 2009) during Notre Dame’s 16-year membership in the conference. Corrigan and his staff have steered the Irish to six wins over ranked opponents this season and the Irish currently boast the nation’s top RPI.
Rogers (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Holy Trinity) leads the Fighting Irish in goals with 17, while his 24 points are tied for the team lead. Rogers has led the Irish in goals during a game a team-best five times this season. He was the only player in the league to be named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week twice this season. This is his first all-BIG EAST accolade.
Marlatt (Clarksville, Md./River Hill) is tied with Rogers for the team lead in points with 24 on 15 goals and a team-high nine assists. Marlatt, who did not play at all during his freshman season due to injury, has started all 12 games this season. He was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on March 12 in addition to a league honor roll selection on April 2. His three assists in a 10-7 win at Villanova were the most for any Irish player this season.
Pfeifer (Crozet, Va./Western Albemarle), a team captain, has started on Notre Dame’s first midfield all season, posting 13 points on seven goals and six assists. He matched a career-high point total with four on two goals and two assists in a 7-3 win over Duke in the season opener. He was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for his performance against the Blue Devils. This is Pfeifer’s first all-BIG EAST honor.
Miller (Warrenton, Va./Notre Dame Academy) has started all 12 games this season at close defense for the Fighting Irish. He is part of an Irish defensive unit that has limited opponents to five goals or fewer five times this season. Miller has picked up 16 ground balls this season. This is the first all-league accolade for the junior.
Villanova’s Kevin Cunningham was named BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year, while Will Mangan from Rutgers was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year.
The 2012 campaign is the third season for BIG EAST men’s lacrosse. Prior to tonight, Notre Dame had garnered one major award during its time in the league. David Earl was tabbed as BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year last season.
2012 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Awards
Attack Player of the Year: Kevin Cunningham, Villanova
Midfielder of the Year: Will Mangan, Rutgers
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Randall, Notre Dame
Goalkeeper of the Year: John Kemp, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame
All-BIG EAST First Team
John Kemp, Notre Dame, Jr., G
Jim Marlatt, Notre Dame, So., M
*Kevin Randall, Notre Dame, Sr., D
*Sean Rogers, Notre Dame, Sr., A
Will Mangan, Rutgers, Sr., M
Dillon Ayers, St. John’s, Jr., LSM
Kieran McArdle, St. John’s, So., A
Kevin Drew, Syracuse, Sr., SSDM
*Brian Megill, Syracuse, Jr., D
Matt Bell, Villanova, Sr., M
*Chris Creighton, Villanova, Sr., D
*Kevin Cunningham, Villanova, Sr., A
Jack Rice, Villanova, Jr., A
* – unanimous selection
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Zack Angel, Georgetown, Sr., M
Brian Casey, Georgetown, Jr., A
Gerry Reilly, Georgetown, Sr., SSDM
Matt Miller, Notre Dame, Jr., D
Max Pfeifer, Notre Dame, Sr., M
Terence Leach, St. John’s, Sr. M
Jeff Lowman, St. John’s, Jr., G
Bobby Eilers, Syracuse, Sr., M
JoJo Marasco, Syracuse, Jr., M
Tommy Palasek, Syracuse, Sr., A
Thomas Croonquist, Villanova, So., F/O
John LoCascio, Villanova, So., LSM
Michael Vigilante, Villanova, Sr., M
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