UMLC Releases D-II All-Conference Picks

MINNEAPOLIS – After rolling through the regular season undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country, St. Thomas senior Sean Hickey was named the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC) Offensive Player of the Year while Tommies junior Alex Bement earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.

In addition, UST’s Brian Gross picked up conference Coach of the Year accolades while three Tommies – middies Simon Gondeck and Ryan McNeil along with long-stick middie Pat Mines – made the all-conference first team.

Six different programs were represented on the all-conference first team, led by Minn.-Duluth with four selections. North Dakota State freshman Kyle Sturgeon rounded out the seasonal awards by taking home Rookie of the Year honors.

2016 UMLC Division II All-Conference Teams

First Team All-UMLC
A – Brooks Armitage, St. John’s
A – Jake Heppner, Minn.-Duluth
A – Kevin Sturgeon, North Dakota State
M – Simon Gondeck, St. Thomas
M – Logan Lindberg, Minn.-Duluth
M – Jack Lyden, MSU-Mankato
M – Ryan McNeil, St. Thomas
LSM – Kevin Bowditch, Minn.-Duluth
LSM – Pat Mines, St. Thomas
FO – Tony Shear, MSU-Mankato
SSDM – Garret Stadsvold, Winona State
D – Zach McKenzie, Winona State
D – Sam Harris, Minn.-Duluth
D – Evan Schraut, North Dakota State
G - Ryan Nelson, St. John's

Second Team All-UMLC
A – Dan Burke, St. Thomas
A – Mike Kukulski, North Dakota State
A – Calvin Lamb, Winona State
M – Jake Harmon, St. John’s
M – Ryan Heid, North Dakota State
M – Brian Hughes, St. Cloud State
M – Alec Larson, North Dakota State
M – Daniel Scalzo, Minn.-Duluth
M – Jake Senta, St. John’s
LSM – Branton Flieschman, Minn.-Duluth
LSM – Jared McComber, St. John’s
FO – Eric Thysse, St. Thomas
SSDM – Zach Sorenson, North Dakota State
D – Cody Johnson, St. John’s
D – Tyler Farr, MSU-Mankato
D – Zach Petron, North Dakota
G – Aaron Landgraf, Winona State

Honorable Mention All-UMLC
A – Jack Hughes, North Dakota State
A – Alec Leaf, Winona State
A – Frank Nesser, Minn.-Duluth
A – Connor Nikolaus, North Dakota
M – Danny Beckman, Winona State
M – Zach Yozamp, MSU-Mankato
LSM – Tyler Jaspersen, Winona State
FO – Cedric Clark, St. Cloud State
FO – Avery Normandin, North Dakota State
SSDM – Kraig Urquart, Minn.-Duluth
D – Nilan Anderson, St. John’s
D – Taylor Culp, St. Thomas
D – Andrew Markland, North Dakota State
D – Jake O’Malley, Winona State
D – Steve Schommer, St. Cloud State
G – Austin Dover, St. Thomas
G – Will Ramert, North Dakota State

Offensive Player of the Year: Sean Hickey, St. Thomas
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Bement, St. Thomas
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Sturgeon, North Dakota State
Coach of the Year: Brian Gross, St. Thomas