April 26, 2007
GREENSBORO, N.C. -
Maryland's Brian Phipps was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Rookie of the Year as selected by a vote of the league's four coaches. Phipps' selection marks the sixth time that a Maryland player has been named the ACC's top freshman.
The All-ACC team was also announced with senior All-Americans Ray Megill and Steve Whittenberg being named to the squad for the second straight year.
Phipps, a native of Annapolis, Md., entered the 2007 season as the third-string goalie on the Terrapin roster, but was pressed into service when Maryland's other two goalies went down with injuries.
The nation's top goalie prospect, according to Inside Lacrosse, began his career with nine saves in the Terps' season opener and got even better from there. He turned in his finest performance of the season on March 10 at Towson. Phipps made a career-best 16 saves and helped the defense hold the Tigers scoreless for a stretch of 29:57 in the 8-7 Maryland win.
Phipps has also come up big in some of the Terps' biggest games of the season. He made 15 saves in a 14-8 win over then-No. 11 North Carolina. Phipps stopped 13 shots in his return to Annapolis on April 6, helping Maryland pull out an 8-7 win in double-overtime at then-No. 7 Navy.
Phipps currently ranks 13th in the nation with a .591 save percentage and is 14th with a 7.92 goals against average. He is second in the ACC in saves per game, stopping 10.46 shots per outing.
Megill, who was recently named one of 17 nominees for the 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy, has been an all-around player for the Terps this season. The Clark, N.J., native, is tied for third on the team with 19 caused turnovers and tied for seventh with 26 groundballs. He has also scored three goals and added one assist and has even seen spot-duty as a face-off man.
Whittenberg makes his second All-ACC team after enjoying another tremendous season. The senior from Springfield, Va., is second on the squad with 23 caused turnovers and is ninth with 25 groundballs. He has helped lead a Terrapin defense that has held 12 of 13 opponents below its season scoring average.
The 2007 ACC Player of the Year award went to Duke senior attackman Matt Danowski, while his father, John, earned Coach of the Year honors in his first season as head coach at Duke.
2007 All-ACC Team
Casey Carroll, Defense, Duke
Matt Danowski, Attack, Duke
Dan Glading, Attack, Virginia
Zack Greer, Attack, Duke
Tim Kaiser, Defense, North Carolina
Ray Megill, Defense, Maryland
Nick O'Hara, Long Pole, Duke
Ben Rubeor, Attack, Virginia
Ricky Smith, Defense, Virginia
Kip Turner, Goalie, Virginia
Steve Whittenberg, Defense, Maryland
2007 Player of the Year: Matt Danowski, Duke
2007 Freshman of the Year: Brian Phipps, Maryland
2007 Coach of the Year: John Danowski, Duke
