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Men's Lacrosse Awards Announced for 2009 season
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA-University of Virginia head men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia announced the team’s award winners for the 2009 season. The Cavaliers finished with a 15-3 record and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament where they fell to eventual national runner-up Cornell, 15-6.
“I am very happy to be announcing the names of our 2009 team award winners,” commented Starsia. “The tragic passing this past summer of our athletics media relations contact, Mike Colley, delayed the original announcement. Mike was a passionate, selfless advocate for our program and we continue to miss him dearly. He would be proud of these young men and I am happy to step up today in his memory and honor.”
Attackman Danny Glading captured two awards-the Dr. Allen Voshell Award as the team’s most valuable player, as well as the Doyle Smith Award for having the team’s highest grade point average. The 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the year graduated in May with a degree in economics and compiled a 3.7 GPA during the academic year. One of the outstanding attackmen in school history, Glading was a first-team All-American and was named All-ACC for the third year in a row in 2009. He led Virginia with 63 total points and ranked 11th nationally in scoring. He also led the team with 31 assists and was third with 32 goals. Glading finished his career ranked in the top 10 in UVa history in goals (seventh), assists (tied for fifth) and points (tied for fifth). He finished his career with 119 goals and 104 assists to become only the sixth player in ACC history to reach 100 goals and 100 assists in a career.
Midfielder Shamel Bratton was named the team’s offensive MVP. An All-ACC performer, he made a tremendous impact during the 2009 campaign, becoming one of the most dangerous midfielders in the nation. He tallied 31 goals and added 11 assists, among the top figures in the country by a midfielder. Bratton was the only player in the conference to earn player of the week honors more than once this season.
Longstick midfielder Mike Timms took home the team’s defensive MVP award for the second consecutive season as well as the Harry Gaver Award for Leadership. Timms shared the defensive MVP award with Ken Clausen in 2008. A Virginia Beach, Va., native, Timms was one of the top longstick midfielders in the country and shutdown virtually every midfielder he was matched against during the season. He snared 60 ground balls and caused 31 caused turnovers for the Cavaliers and received honorable mention All-America recognition for the third time. A 2008 graduate in economics, Timms finished his master’s degree from the McIntire School of Commerce in July.
Midfielder John Haldy was selected as the team’s Most Improved Player. After only appearing in five games in 2008, the Bryn Mawr, Pa., native appeared in all 18 games off the bench, leading all non-starters with 11 goals, while adding a couple assists for 13 total points.
Midfielder Joe Dewey won the Lawrie Riggs Award for commitment and citizenship. After his sixth concussion last fall, Dewey stepped away from the game competitively and assisted the squad as a practice player during the 2009 season. He graduated in May with a degree in history.
Midfielder Max Pomper received the Tom Rixey Award for spirit and inspiration. Pomper, one of the team captains, tallied two goals and an assist in 18 games.
Goalie Mark Wade received the Class of ’99 Unsung Hero Award. One of the hardest workers on the team, he appeared in 10 games, starting one in the net for the Cavaliers, picking up the victory at VMI.
“These young men were the leaders of a team that earned the No. 1 seed going in to the NCAA Tournament and participated in its third NCAA Final Four in the last four years,” reflected Starsia.