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Aug. 26, 2003
Philadelphia, Pa. – Two former University of Virginia men’s lacrosse players received awards at the annual Major League Lacrosse awards luncheon last weekend in Philadelphia. Long Island Lizards midfielder Jay Jalbert was named the MLL Bud Light MVP, while Boston Cannons defenseman Ryan Curtis was named the league’s Defenseman of the Year.
Jalbert finished sixth in MLL in scoring with 47 points in helping guide the Lizards to the league championship. The Huntington, N.Y., native also finished fifth in the league with a team-high 32 and eighth with 14 assists. In addition, he scooped up a league-record 105 ground balls.
“It’s a huge honor to be named MVP of the league with all these great players,” said Jalbert. “But this is as much of the team’s award as it is mine.”
A two-time first-team All-American at UVa, Jalbert completed his career fifth in school history in goals (112). As a junior in 1999 he was named National Midfielder of the Year as the Cavaliers won the national championship, their first since 1972.
Curtis, a three-time MLL All-Star, had his best season to date in 2003. He finished second on the Cannons with 41 ground balls and routinely drew the opposition’s best attackman as his defensive assignment.
“It’s an amazing honor to be given this award,” said Curtis. “I have to credit my teammates, especially the rest of our defensemen. We play solid team defense and they make my job easier.
“I love the challenge of defending the other team’s best player. Some people think it’s a burden, but I want to do it until they tell me I can’t do it anymore.”
Curtis was named the World Cup Sports Cannons Team Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season this year. He has started every game in Cannons history.
Like Jalbert, he was a two-time first-team All-American at UVa (1999-2000). A stalwart on two final four teams in college, he was named National Defenseman of the Year as a junior in 1999.