Player of the Year
Evan Royster
Westfield, senior, attack
A rare combination of speed, athleticism and smarts, Royster was a dominant force all over the field for the Bulldogs and registered a team-high 60 goals and 25 assists. Westfield finished with a 12-3 record, but all three losses — to Northern Region champion W.T. Woodson, Group AAA state champion Robinson and three-time defending region champ Oakton — all came by one goal. Royster, a three-time All-Examiner selection in football, will play that sport at Penn State. Among the 46 high school All-Americans chosen for the inaugural Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic in Towson, Md., Royster was one of only two who will not play college lacrosse.
Coach of the Year
Justin Fitzgerald
Robinson
Fitzgerald, part of a coaching staff that helped the Rams to Northern Region and unofficial state championships in 2001 and 2002, returned as head coach after a year away from the program to lead Robinson to the first official Group AAA state championship. It was quite a turnaround for a team that started the season 4-5 after close losses to W.T. Woodson, Westfield, DeMatha (Md.) and Landon (Md.). But the Rams won 11 of their final 12 games, the lone loss an 8-6 defeat to Woodson in the Northern Region championship. Robinson, which also won the Concorde District title, finished 15-6. The Rams played in seven games decided by two goals or less.
First team
Robbie Maclay
Langley, senior, attack
A two-time All-Examiner selection, Maclay led the Saxons with 58 goals and 26 assists. He also recorded 77 ground balls. Finished his career with 148 goals, the most in program history, and 61 assists. The Liberty District player of the year will play at Vermont.
Donald Murphy
Oakton, senior, attack
Oakton’s leading scorer with 44 goals and 38 assists. Murphy, who also registered 107 ground balls and 31 takeaway checks, earned All-Examiner and All-Northern Region honors for the second time. He totaled 116 career goals and 107 career assists and will play football and lacrosse at Salisbury.
Matt Kugler
Robinson, junior, attack
A tremendous postseason for Kugler, who scored at least three goals in five Robinson playoff games, including five goals in the Group AAA state final win over Oakton. He produced a team-high 55 goals and added 31 assists en route to first-team All-Northern Region honors.
Brian Brady
Yorktown, senior, attack
Brady helped Yorktown remain unbeaten in its first 16 games before falling to Langley in the Northern Region quarterfinals. The Patriots set the program record for victories, won their first National District championship and first region tournament game. Brady scored 38 goals and 16 assists and finished with 101 career goals.
Brandon Butler
W.T. Woodson, senior, midfielder
One of Northern Virginia’s premier playmakers, Butler is an All-Examiner selection for the second time. He led the Northern Region champion Cavaliers in ground balls (123) and assists (32) and also scored 34 goals, including seven in the Liberty District final win over Langley. Will play at Army.
Danny Coale
Episcopal, junior, midfielder
Coale anchored the midfield for an Episcopal team that finished 8-11. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, an All-Examiner wide receiver in football last fall, has lacrosse scholarship offers from Johns Hopkins and Virginia and was a first-team All-IAC selection. He has also drawn football interest from Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Wake Forest.
Nick Messinger
Chantilly, senior, midfielder
Fueled a resurgent Chantilly program that finished .500 for the first time in six years and placed fourth in the Concorde District. Messinger, a first-team All-Northern Region choice, scored a team-high 24 goals and six assists. He also contributed with 33 ground balls. Will play at St. John’s (N.Y.).
Sean Jackson
W.T. Woodson, senior, defenseman
Anchored a Woodson defense that allowed just 4.9 goals per game. Only Langley and Westfield reached double-digits against the Cavaliers. Jackson, who will play at North Carolina, recorded 81 ground balls and 17 takeaway checks to help Woodson win its first Northern Region title since 2000.
Andy Mullinax
Robinson, senior, defenseman
Played a key role in Robinson winning the first official Group AAA state title. Lifted the Rams to an 8-7 win over Langley in the Northern Region semifinals with an improbable overtime goal. Part of a defense that allowed just 5.3 goals per game in 10 playoff games.
Thomas Rupp
Oakton, senior, defenseman
Rupp was a first-team All-Northern Region selection. His relentless defense in the Group AAA state semifinals against Woodson All-Examiner midfielder Brandon Butler (two goals) helped Oakton avenge a 12-2 loss just a week earlier. Finished with 42 takeaway checks and 21 forced turnovers. Will play at Salisbury.
Chris Gascoigne
Langley, senior, goalie
The backbone of a Langley team that finished 13-5 and lost by a combined three goals in Northern Region semifinal and consolation game losses. Gascoigne averaged 10.4 saves per game and made 176 stops total. Northern Region champion W.T. Woodson was the only team to score more than eight goals against the Saxons.
Second Team
Alex Couture, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes
Senior, attack
Harper Cullen, Episcopal
Senior, attack
Robert Lee, Langley
Senior, attack
Peter Gudmundsen, Jefferson
Junior, attack
Reid Mayberry, W.T. Woodson
Junior, attack
Bobby Davis, Oakton
Senior, midfielder
Sean O’Sullivan, Westfield
Junior, midfielder
James Fitzella, Madison
Senior, midfielder
Max Wilson, Langley
Senior, defender
Lance Ophof, Mount Vernon
Senior, defender
Tyler Rickson, T.C. Williams
Senior, defender
Mark White, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes
Junior, goalie
