FREELAND, Mich.-- Three members of the Trine men's lacrosse team earned recognition on the All-MIAA teams, announced by the conference Wednesday morning.
Midfielder Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Rita) and defender Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) earned recogniton on the All-MIAA First Team. Ward and Backer each earned First Team honors for the second-consecutive year. The duo are the first players in team history to earn All-MIAA First Team honors twice. Defender Colin O'Keefe (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) was named to the All-MIAA Second Team. O'Keefe picked up the first all-conference honor of his Trine career.
Ward's hard shot from the wing proved to be a valuable weapon offensively for the Thunder. The junior finished tied for third in scoring in the MIAA in conference games with 18 goals- an average of three per game. His three goals on extra-man opportunities also tied for third in the MIAA.
Overall, Ward finished second on the team in scoring with 26 goals. He was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week in week eight after a five-goal effort against Alma. Ward has scored 79 goals in his career.
Backer was disruptive force for the Thunder defensively in earning his second-consecutive all-conference honors. The junior caused 14 turnovers in conference play to rank third in the league in that category. He also notched 18 ground balls in conference play.
Backer's 24 total caused turnovers were fifth in the conference in all games, despite playing in fewer games than all players ahead of him. He was one of three players in the top five to average two or more caused turnovers per game.
O'Keefe was a strong presence on Trine's defensive corps to pick up his first-career all-conference honor. The junior caused 16 turnovers, the second-most on the team and a new career-high. His 32 ground balls tied with Backer for the lead among all Thunder defenders.
In 37 career starts, O'Keefe has 39 caused turnovers to his credit. The junior averaged a career-best 2.7 ground balls per game this year.
The complete All-MIAA award-winners and teams are listed below.
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Alexander Dziewit, Albion
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Kyle Formanczyk, Albion
All-MIAA First Team
A- Mitch Burgin, Adrian
A- Tim Urso, Albion
A- Gunnar Elder, Hope
M- Zach Hubbell, Albion
M- Alexander Dziewit, Albion
M- Chris Ward, Trine
Face-Off- Nick DiMaggio, Albion
LSM- Cody Schmitt, Adrian
M- Austin Irrer, Alma
D- Max Groves, Adrian
D- Matt Spinney, Albion
D- Jordan Backer, Trine
G- Kyle Formanczyk, Albion
All-MIAA Second Team
A- Doug Boyd, Adrian
A- Cameron Braun, Albion
A- Dakota Badder, Olivet
M- Adam Findley, Adrian
M- Nick Karapas, Adrian
M- A.J. Smith, Adrian
Face-Off- Kyle DeCamp, Albion
LSM- Joe Silvestri, Albion
M- Will Dommermuth, Hope
D- Sam Korbel, Alma
D- Colin O'Keefe, Trine
D- Kyle Borek, Olivet
G- Ryan McGee, Olivet