In his first season as head lacrosse coach, Marty Ward has led his team to new program-highs in wins and conference wins. Monday afternoon he was named the Deep South Conference Co-Coach-of-the-Year along with Greg Paradine of Lenoir-Rhyne. The Moccasins are 7-6 overall and finished 4-2 in the DSC, and clinched the top seed in the South Region for the DSC tournament. This week Florida Southern has received votes for the national rankings for the first time in program history. Kevin Naslonski, Adam Ismaeil, and Larry Gress were all named Second Team All-Deep South Conference, while Ike Hopper, Jon Freda, and Freedom High School’s Andrew Almansberger received honorable mention recognition.

Mat Thompson , Thompson has started every game at attack for the Moccasins and leads the team with 28 goals. He has scored at least three goals in six games this season, including a season-high six goals against Saint Leo. Thompson is second on the team with 33 points and has picked up 13 ground balls. Naslonski has played in all 13 of the Mocs’ games this season tallying 14 goals and two assists. He had four multi-goal games on the season, including three goals in the Mocs’ win over Lindenwood.

Ismaeil, a specialist, leads the team with 55 ground balls. Ismaeil has five goals, including two in the Mocs’ upset of #9 Mars Hill and has started all 13 games. Gress has been one of the leaders of the Moccasins defense and has 27 ground balls and one assist on the season. He has limited his match-up throughout the season, including holding conference player of the year Tyler Farmer to one goal in the Mocs’ win over Mars Hill. Hopper led the Mocs with 18 assist and 36 points and has 11 multi-point games on the season. Freda is fourth on the team with 23 points, and had 4 assist and a goal in the Mocs 17-4 win over Saint Leo. Almansberger is 6-3 on the season, with a .585 save percentage and is tied for third on the team with 30 ground balls. He had double-digits saves in seven games including a season-high 15 in the Mocs win over #9 Mars Hill.