MLL: 2017 Warrior Defensive Player of the Year Nominees Announced – Durkin Nominated!
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Featured Posts, Florida Lacrosse News, Florida Launch, Launch/MLL/NLL/Women’s Pro, Uncategorized.
via MLL press release – photo via MLL
Here are the nominees for the 2017 Warrior Defensive Player of the Year:
Tucker Durkin, Defense, Florida Launch
Durkin appeared in all 14 games for the Launch for the third straight season, helping lead them to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. He finished the year with 13 groundballs and three caused turnovers. On May 20, Durkin and the Florida defense limited the Rattlers to a season-low eight goals and Rochester managed just 25 shots on goal. The Launch fell to Ohio in the MLL Semi-Finals despite Durkin contributing with two groundballs and a caused turnover.
Joel White, Defense, Rochester Rattlers
White helped lead one of the stingiest defenses in the league, as the Rattlers finished with the third-fewest goals allowed in 2017. In eight games, he totaled 28 groundballs and two caused turnovers. White also scored four goals, his most in a season since 2014 (5 goals), and he had one assist. White was named the Warrior Defensive Player of the Week for Week 12 after the Rattlers limited Boston to single-digit goals in a 21-9 win. Rochester went 5-3 with White in the lineup this season and 3-3 without him.
Matt McMahon, Defense, Ohio Machine
McMahon was named to the MLL All-Star Game for the first time in his career in 2017. The third-year pro played in the defensive unit that allowed the fewest goals in the league and he appeared in all 14 games. He scooped up 46 groundballs, tied for the third-most on the team and had 15 caused turnovers. On May 27, McMahon and the Machine defense held the Launch to just seven goals, their fewest in a game this season.
