The second annual team consisting of the best performers in Division-1 who hailed from the state of Michigan. Any disagreements, perceived omissions, etc., feel free to debate them in the comments.
Goalie
Grant Lardieri
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
Freshman/UMass Lowell
After a couple years in which the honoree in this category came basically by default, Lardieri earned the award, despite pedestrian stats. He started every game for second-year UMass Lowell, and earned four wins. He had a .470 save percentage, while facing as much rubber as almost any keeper in the country.
Defense
Brent Lubin
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Sophomore/NJIT
Like Lardieri, Lubin played for a relatively new program, and although NJIT struggled on the field (and particularly on defense) this season, he played a big role for the Highlanders. He played in every game, starting 12 of 15 contests, and caused 11 turnovers while picking up 15 ground balls.
Logan Monroe
Holt
Freshman/Canisius
In a year without many defensemen from the Great Lakes State making an impact on the college level, Monroe was a major contributor for the best of the defenses with candidates available. He played every game and started all but one, causing six turnovers and picking up two ground balls for the country’s No. 48 scoring defense.
Chris Walker
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Senior/Michigan
Michigan’s defense took a step back this year, but Walker wasn’t one of the primary culprits. He started every game for which he was healthy (he missed the final two games, in which Johns Hopkins and Penn State put up 19 and 14 goals, respectively), and was often tasked with covering the opposition’s top attackman. Walker caused nine turnovers and picked up 22 ground balls on the season.
Midfield
Jason Alessi
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Sophomore/Yale
Yale had an outstanding year on offense, and Alessi was one of the Bulldogs’ No. 7 leading scorer. He scored 12 goals and added two assists despite not cracking the starting lineup. Alessi was also productive in the possession game, causing two turnovers and picking up 24 ground balls (second among non-defensive specialists).
JP Forester
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Junior/Richmond
Although the Richmond offense was hardly a juggernaut in goals per game, a large part of that was slow pace, and the Spiders were far from inefficient. Despite missing three games (and not starting two others in which he played), Forester was one of Richmond’s leading scorers with 14 goals and seven assists. Like Alessi, he chipped in holding onto (or acquiring) possessions, with three caused turnovers and 16 ground balls.
Sergio Perkovic
Brother Rice
Junior/Notre Dame
Perkovic has been an ESPN/IL fave for a few years, and he put together another big season for the Irish, though some cracks showed in terms of inefficiency and being a bit of a one-trick pony (that trick being “bomb from outside”). Perkovic scored 26 goals and added four assists, though 116 total shots showed that he was something of a volume shooter this year, and with opposing defenses keying on him, he had his least productive year for the Irish.
Attack
Kyle Beauregard
Notre Dame Prep
Junior/Detroit
Although Detroit’s offense left plenty to be desired this year, Beauregard was an every-game starter, and finished fourth on the squad in scoring. He put in eight goals and assisted on two others, and picked up 13 ground balls.
Andy Hebden
Brother Rice
Senior/Detroit
Previously a midfielder, Hebden shifted to attack for an offense that is heavily reliant on players at the position. He started every game and was the Titans’ second-leading scorer, pouring in 19 goals and contributing four assists. He also caused three turnovers and picked up 24 ground balls (though he gave some of that back with 20 turnovers committed).
John Wagner
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood
Freshman/Marquette
In a light year for attackmen from the state, Wagner beats out Golden Eagles teammate JP Forester for the final nod here. He played in every game for Marquette, starting two of them. He had a meager four goals and two assists, but for an offense that was only mediocre, that’s a nice role for a freshman.
Specialists
Ben Gjokaj – Faceoff Specialist
Walled Lake Central
Junior/Detroit
Detroit struggled on faceoffs this year, but Gjokaj was the most-used and most-successful specialist for UDM. He won 74 of 133 draws (.556), picking up 23 ground balls. He committed just one turnover on the season, so when he did win the faceoff, he wasn’t giving it right back away.
Jordan Yono – Long-Stick Midfield
Novi Detroit Catholic Central
Senior/Detroit
Although the Titans didn’t have a great season, the UDM defense was relatively strong (at least in terms of goals allowed per game – Detroit did play relatively slowly this year). Yono was one of the leaders of that unit, playing both close defense and long-stick midfield. He was an every-game starter, causing 10 turnovers and picking up 15 ground balls. He also scored a goal, and chipped in on faceoffs, winning 2/12.
Charlie Hayes – Short-Stick Defensive Midfield
Utica Eisenhower
Sophomore/Detroit
Hayes put up the best stats of the UDM D-middies (and the Titans were the only team to regularly use D-mids from Michigan), so he earns the nod here. He caused eight turnovers and picked up 14 ground balls for Detroit, and also made a bit of a contribution on offense, scoring a goal on six shots.
Offensive Player of the Year
Sergio Perkovic
Brother Rice
Junior/Notre Dame
Though he didn’t have his best season – and will need to diversify to live up to the substantial hype as a senior – Perkovic still stands above the other players on the list. There’s certainly nobody else on this list with the ESPN-approved pedigree (and terrible nickname), so Perkovic takes the honor.
Defensive Player of the Year
Jordan Yono
Novi Detroit Catholic Central
Senior/Detroit
The diversity of the role that Yono played – playing close defense and LSM, and even chipping in as a faceoff specialist – helps him take home the honor here. Detroit’s defense was solid, and Yono was a standout for the Titans for multiple years, earning GLS Defensive Player of the Year in his final go-round on 6 Mile.
Debate away. The full final stats can be seen here.