CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) released the 2023 Men’s Lacrosse All-Conference teams and award winners on Thursday.
Dirk Meinhart (Elizabethtown, Ky.) of Hanover College was named the 2023 HCLC Offensive Player of the Year in a vote of league coaches. The senior led the Panthers this season with 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points. His 1.86 assists per game average were a league best, and his 3.14 points per game were the eighth best mark in the conference.
Voted as the league’s 2023 Defensive Player of the Year was
Luca Lietti (San Marcos, Calif.) of Colorado College. Lietti has stepped up over the course of the year, marking every opponent’s best attackman and has been a major catalyst on transition for the Tigers. Lietti has made an impact for the CC squad in caused turnovers with eight and ground balls with 36. The midfielder has also racked up six goals and two assists for eight points.
Hanover first-year
Colin O’Brien (Somers, Conn.) was recognized as the 2023 HCLC Newcomer of the Year. In his first season in a Panthers jersey, O’Brien racked up 35 goals and seven assists for 42 points. He also added 19 ground balls and three caused turnovers, starting in every contest but one for Hanover. He is fourth in the league for goals per game (2.50) and 10th in the rankings for points per game (3.00)
For his part in leading Hanover to a 4-0 conference mark and 7-7 overall mark, and a No. 1 seed in the Northern division,
Jeff Roberts was voted as the HCLC Coach of the Year.
Offensive Player of the Year: Dirk Meinhart, Hanover College
Defensive Player of the Year: Luca Lietti, Colorado College
Newcomer of the Year: Colin O’Brien, Hanover College
Coach of the Year: Jeff Roberts, Hanover College
The HCLC also honors an All-Conference First Team and Second Team. The members of those teams are selected by a vote of league coaches.
For more information on HCLC Men’s Lacrosse, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.
All-Conference First Team
| Winston Chodnicki |
Face Off |
Colorado College |
| Scott Dues |
Defense |
Hanover College |
| Nate Duncan |
Midfield |
Southwestern University |
| Lance Guttormson |
Goalkeeper |
Hanover College |
| Alex Kleinhelter |
Attack |
Hanover College |
| Luca Lietti |
Short Stick Defense |
Colorado College |
| Cade McDonald |
Attack |
Southwestern University |
| Dirk Meinhart |
Midfield |
Hanover College |
| Mason Mellinger |
Attack |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Thomas Power |
Attack |
Colorado College |
| Stephen Ruffennach |
Defense |
Colorado College |
| Will Slover |
Long Stick Midfield |
Hanover College |
| Will Thompson |
Defense |
Southwestern University |
| Dylan Wells |
Midfield |
Colorado College |
All-Conference Second Team
| Kenny Bentley |
Face Off |
Anderson Univesrity |
| Ben Clarke |
Long Stick Midfield |
Colorado College |
| Austin Combs |
Defense |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Shea Donovan |
Defense |
Earlham College |
| Clayton Emery |
Midfield |
Anderson University |
| Timothy Jackson |
Goalkeeper |
Anderson University |
| Tyler Johnson |
Midfield |
Southwestern University |
| John Kelly |
Goalkeeper |
Spalding University |
| Matthew Lulich |
Defense |
Centenary College |
| Declan Maguire |
Midfield |
Colorado College |
| Collin O’Brien |
Attack |
Hanover College |
| Jackson Pruitt |
Defense |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Tommy Saueressig |
Short Stick Defense |
Southwestern University |
| Cole Whatley |
Attack |
Anderson University |