BEREA, Ohio—The Baldwin Wallace University men's lacrosse team and Co-Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions have been honored as the top scoring defense in NCAA Division III for the second consecutive season and sophomore goalkeeper Mike Dizonno (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adai E. Stevenson) is the statistical champion for goals-against average.
This season, the Yellow Jacket defense allowed a nation's best and school-record 5.3 goals per game and led BW to its first-ever conference regular season crown, won a school-record 14 victories and an overall record of 14-3. Dizonno finished the season with a career-best 4.72 goals-against average and had a career-high 101 saves in just his second season between the pipes.
"I think the award is a great reflection of our defensive players and of all the young men in our program," said Head Coach Jason Tarnow. "We pride ourselves on being a defensive minded team and we hope to continue what has been a great two-year span."
"Mike is an emotional leader for this team and is the anchor of our defense," continued Tarnow. "We look to forward to his continued hard work and dedication to the program and are excited for his junior campaign."
In addition to Dizonno, the defense featured OAC Defender of the Year and three-time All-OAC junior Josiah Greve (Milford), All-OAC freshman defender Brian Jandzinski (Lancaster, N.Y.), junior defender Michael Dickey (Rocky River), All-OAC freshman long stick midfielder Cole McClary (Perrysburg) and junior midfielder Brian Musial (Broadview Heights / Brecksville-Broadview Hts.).
The Yellow Jackets earned their first national defensive accolade a season ago as it allowed 5.73 goals per game and finished the year with an overall record of 13-2.