April 27, 2006

Baltimore, Md. -

Maryland senior attackman Joe Walters was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year as selected by a vote of the league's coaches, the conference announced Thursday evening at its annual awards banquet. The All-ACC team was also announced with Walters being joined on that squad by senior midfielders Bill McGlone and Xander Ritz and junior defenders Ray Megill and Steve Whittenberg.

Walters becomes the first Maryland player to be named the ACC Player of the Year twice in his career. He previously won the award in 2004 and was also the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003. The Rochester, N.Y., native is also one of two current players in the conference to be named to the All-ACC team three times.

A three time All-American Walters leads the league in points with 44 and goals with 28 this season. Those totals have put him within reach of the school's all-time points and goals scored records. Walters has 211 points in his career and needs just nine points to break Bob Boniello's school record of 219. Matt Hahn's career record of 149 goals is also within Walters' sights as he is just four goals shy of that mark. Walters currently has 145 goals in his career, which ties him for 25th on the NCAA's all-time list with Marist's Paul Donahue. A preseason first team All-American, Walters is one of 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation's top lacrosse player.

McGlone earns All-ACC honors for the second straight year. The 2005 first team All-American is eighth in the conference with 15 goals. He has totaled 20 points on the season, which ranks him third on the team behind Walters and Ritz. The Swarthmore, Pa., native was a preseason first team All-American and was on the preseason Tewaaraton Trophy "Watch List."

Ritz earns his first All-ACC honor after scoring a career-best 24 goals in just 11 goals. That total is eight more than his previous season-best of 16 as a freshman at Delaware. The Wayne, Pa., native is tied for third in goals in the ACC and is tied for fifth with 32 points. Ritz has scored eight of his 24 goals on extra-man opportunities, helping the Terps to a .612 extra-man conversion percentage that leads the nation.

Megill, another first-time All-ACC honoree, has made a tremendous impact on the Maryland defense in his first full season as a starter. He has been a key to the Terps' defense, which has allowed just 5.82 goals per game and has been ranked among the nation's best for most of 2006. The Clark, N.J., native is tied with Whittenberg for the team lead with 22 caused turnovers on the season. The 2005 honorable mention All-American is also tied for fifth on the squad with 23 groundballs.

A 2005 third team All-American, Whittenberg earned his first All-ACC honor after a sensational regular season. The Springfield, Va., native is tied with Megill for the team lead with 22 caused turnovers and ranks fourth on the squad with 26 groundballs. He has been a key to the Terps' defense, which has allowed just 5.82 goals per game and has been ranked among the nation's best for most of 2006.

The 2006 ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship will be held April 28 and 30 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Maryland, the No. 2 seed, will face No. 3 seed North Carolina in the semifinal at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28. The winner will go on to meet No. 1 seed Virginia in the championship game will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.