Junior All-American Bryan Griffin and coach Mike Daly were honored with NESCAC Men's Lacrosse's highest awards last week when they were named NESCAC Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.
Griffin was far and away the most dominant force in the NESCAC this season, racking up 41 goals and 35 assists - both league highs - for a league high and Tufts single season record 76 points.
Griffin averaged 2.56 goals per game, also a league high.
Despite being the focus of every team's defense this season, the junior still equaled his goal output from last year and increased his assist total by 12. Griffin also won the Player of the Year award last year.
Daly, in his sixth year with the team, earned his first coach of the year honors. His coaching has improved every season and he has instilled a strong work ethic in his players that, in addition to increasing the team's talent year after year, has drastically bettered the program.
Junior Devin Clarke joined Griffin on the First Team All-NESCAC squad. The Ridgewood, N.J. native complemented Griffin perfectly at midfield, scoring 28 goals and adding 13 assists for a total of 41 points, good for second on the squad.
Clarke's 1.75 goals per game average was good for fifth in the conference.
Also complementing Griffin on offense was sophomore Mike O'Brien, who was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team for his strong midfield play all season. The Concord, Mass, native was third on the team with 24 goals, coupled with nine assists to give him 33 points on the season, good for fourth on the squad.
Perhaps his most impressive game of the season was a four goal outburst against NESCAC rival Bowdoin, a team the Jumbos defeated 12-11 at home in the regular season.
Senior tri-captain Dave Richman rounded out the All-NESCAC selections for Tufts, representing the Jumbos defense on the Second Team.
Richman anchored a defense that allowed just 8.15 goals per game, good for fifth in the league.
