EMMITSBURG, Md. (April 28, 2023) – Following an impressive season in their return to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Mount St. Mary's men's lacrosse collects four of the five major award winners entering the postseason and seven All-MAAC selections.
 
Connor Beals received a unanimous honor as Face-off Specialist of the Year, as did Steven Schmitt for Long Stick Midfielder of the Year. Mitchell Dunham earned recognition as Defensive Player of the Year, and TJ Gravante secured Rookie of the Year.
 
Beals, Schmitt, and Dunham also collected First Team honors, along with Jared McMahon for attack and Jake Krieger for midfield. Jackson Phillips obtained a Second Team selection, while Gravante attained a Rookie Team spot in accompaniment with his award.
 
Together, the selections are the most since 2019 and the highest number of first team selections since 2003.
 
Beals spearheads one of the best face-off units in the nation and ranks fourth as an individual across the country. Taking 291 chances, the Michigander won 185 of them, good for a percentage of .636. Along the way, he collected 72 ground balls and scored three goals. He saved his best performance for the regular season finale, winning 81 percent of faceoffs against Siena on April 22^nd.
 
Dunham is the MAAC leader for caused turnovers and ranks 11^th in the nation at an even two per game. Working out to 30 across 15 games, his season high came in the team's win over Wagner, forcing six new possessions for the Mountaineers. His ratio for causing turnovers versus committing them is almost 3:1. Additional stats include 68 ground balls – third most on the team – and six assists on goals.
 
Schmitt is the Mount's ground ball leader with 91, ranking third in the MAAC and 30^th nationwide. He also played a major role in caused turnovers, with his 25 good for fourth best in the league and 22^nd in the country. During the team's win over Canisius, Schmitt picked up career highs in both categories, with 13 ground balls and five caused turnovers. Scoring eight times as well, he posted a goal in each of the final six contests.
 
Gravante started all 15 games on attack for the Mount, and posted 21 points, good for sixth best among the team. His goal count of 13 stands fifth best, along with eight assists, 16 ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. The best performance of the season came on four points – all goals – in the team's win over Wagner.
 
McMahon served as the team's leader in points on offense for the year, picking up 46 between 32 goals and 14 assists. Against his MAAC peers, the graduate student stood eighth in goals per game at 2.13. Carrying a points streak into the year, he posted a goal or assist in every game but one this season. Top efforts include a four goal, two assist game versus Quinnipiac and five point showings against Canisius and Siena.
 
Krieger finished with the highest number of assists among the Mountaineers with 18 and was second in points at 33. His numbers picked up from the fourth game of the year onward, finishing the rest of the season with at least one point per game. The senior reached five points in a game twice – scoring twice and helping thrice against LIU, and a one goal, four assist endeavor at Sacred Heart.
 
Phillips competed in 14 of the team's 15 games during the season, ranking third among the team in caused turnovers with 19, while also picking up 18 ground balls. His caused turnover total ranks seventh in the MAAC and 53^rd nationwide. His highest total for gaining possessions in a game is four, happening twice this season – against Delaware February 15^th and Canisius April 12^th.
 
Earning the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament, Mount St. Mary's earned a first round bye. Their semifinal match will take place on Thursday (May 4).