ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell University men's lacrosse program concluded a fantastic alumni weekend with its annual awards banquet, held Sunday morning at the Statler Hotel on the Cornell campus. Friends and family gathered to meet the 2019 Big Red squad while saying goodbye to the Class of 2018.
 
At the banquet, Peter Milliman, The Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse, announced that seniors Clarke Petterson, Ryan Bray, Jake McCulloch and Fleet Wallace will serve as team captains for the 2019 season. For Petterson, the captainship will be his third, joining Rob Pannell as the only players in Big Red men's lacrosse history to be named captain three times.
 
Milliman also announced the award winners for the 2018 season, including Christian Knight and Jeff Teat, who each repeated as the team MVP, and offensive MVP, respectively, while Jake Pulver was named defensive MVP.
 
A second-team All-American selection, Knight took home the Dr. Ray Van Orman Memorial Award as the team's most valuable player after posting the highest save percentage (.558) and lowest goals-against average (9.75) of his career. His save percentage was the highest by any Cornell goalie in more than a decade (Matt McMonagle – .616 in 2017), and despite seeing a large chunk of his senior season wiped out due to injury, he was named honorable mention All-Ivy for the fourth time in his career. An Inside Lacrosse Media second-team All-American, Knight posted double-digits saves in 8-of-13 games during the 2018 campaign, registering a career-high 19 saves on three occasions. He racked up an Ivy League tournament record 35 saves over two games to lead the Big Red to the Ivy League Men's Lacrosse Tournament title, earning tournament MVP honors as a result. He finished the season ranked ninth in the nation in save percentage and 14th overall in saves per game (11.36).
 
The Joe Phillip Memorial Award, which is given annually to the offensive MVP as the person who contributed to the overall team effort, in grateful memory of Phillip, whose humor, inspiration and service to Cornell lacrosse will never be forgotten, was awarded to Teat for the second consecutive year. In just his second season with the Big Red, Teat was named first-team All-American and was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy honoree. He finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in assists (3.44) and fifth overall in points (5.50) per game. Teat finished the year with 62 assists, the third most assists in a single-season in Cornell history, behind only Tim Goldstein (73 in 1987) and Eamon McEneaney (65 in 1975). He also finished the year with 99 points, the fourth most in program history. He was named an Inside Lacrosse Media first-team All-American and a Tewaaraton Trophy nominee. Teat is one of just three players in Cornell history to post consecutive 30-goal, 30-assist seasons, and one of just four to amass 70 points in back-to-back campaigns.
 
Pulver earned the Lawrence Van Buren Woodworth Memorial Award, given annually to the player who most exemplifies competitive spirit and fair play, as the team's outstanding defensive player. A two-time team captain and third-team USILA All-American in 2018, Pulver was also named the Senior CLASS Award winner for men's lacrosse after leading the Big Red to an Ivy League Tournament championship and a spot in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse quarterfinals. A unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection in 2018, he earned a reputation as one of the best cover men in the conference and finished his senior season nationally ranked in caused turnovers.

Pulver also took home the Charlie Hustle Award, given in memory of Charles W. Cayten to the player who has displayed outstanding hustle on the practice and game fields, a leader in the pursuit of ground balls in relation to playing time.
 
Jordan Dowiak took home the Al "Junior" Kelz - Mike Herriott Award, given to the team's outstanding senior player. The award was established by the late R.L. Cullen in memory of Junior Kelz and Mike Herriott, who were tragically killed while on a lacrosse scouting trip in 1965. Dowiak was named honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Ivy as a senior captain. He had a stellar 2018 season, ranking third on the team in both goals (40) and points (47). With his four-goal performance vs. Maryland in the NCAA quarterfinals, he became just the third midfielder in Cornell history, and just the ninth in the history of the Ivy League, to register 40 goals in a single season.  A force out of the midfield, Dowiak finished the 2018 season as the sixth highest scoring midfield in the nation, and his 23-game goal scoring streak was good for fifth in the nation. He helped the Big Red to an Ivy League Tournament championship (2018), an Ivy League title (2015) and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2015, 2018).
 
Jonathan Donville earned the Cornell Lacrosse Club Most Improved Player Award, which in recent years has been given to the rookie player that has had the greatest impact on the team. Donville was the most productive offensive player of the freshman class, playing in all 18 games on the second offensive midfield. He finished the year ranked third on the team in assists (19) and fifth overall in goals (18) and points (35). With eight multi-point games to his credit, he was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week twice on the year (April 9, April 16).
 
The C.F. Morse Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, given annually to the player who combines the physical attributes of a Spartan and the scholar achievements of an Athenian, was awarded to defenseman Scott Flynn.
 
Dan Bockelman earned the J.E.B. Sportsmanship Award for combining the qualities of lacrosse ability, leadership, fairness, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of results on and off the playing field.
 
Tyler Miller and Matt Pinto, who both endured injuries during their careers, shared the LaFrance award, given to the senior who combines mental and physical toughness, along with humor and bravery, despite injury.
 
 Established prior to the 2013 season, the Practice Player of the Year award, given to the individual that "gives his all for Cornell" day-in and day-out on the practice field, was awarded to Charlie Estill.
 
Tom Howley, Associate Director of Athletics for Athlete Performance, was named the recipient of the Dave Friedleb Memorial Award, given by the Cornell lacrosse community to the person or persons whose enthusiasm, assistance, interest and compassion for the Cornell lacrosse team are greatly appreciated.
 
Cornell finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 13-5, posting eight more wins than it did during the 2017 campaign (5), matching the best single-season turnaround in program history. The team won the 2018 Ivy League Men's Lacrosse Tournament and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Cornell upset Syracuse in first round action at the Carrier Dome before falling to No. 1 Maryland at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.