CENTERVILLE, Mass. – On Thursday the Eastern College Athletic Conference announced the All-Conference teams and players of the year, and the Bellarmine Knights were well represented. In a vote conducted by league coaches, two players each from Loyola and Ohio State received recognition as players of the year, while Bellarmine sported both the Goalie of the Year and the Coach of the Year.
 
Bellarmine's netminder Dillon Ward was selected as the ECAC Goalie of the Year in unanimous fashion, receiving all seven possible first-place votes. Ward stopped 66.2% of the 314 shots he faced to finish the season with the highest save percentage in the NCAA. Ward was also named as the All-ECAC First Team goalie.

The Knights' second-year head coach Kevin Burns was also recognized, as the ECAC Coach of the Year. In just his second season at the helm, Burns turned around a team that failed to win one conference game in 2012. In 2013 the Knights went 3-4 in ECAC play and were in the mix for a post-season berth late into the season. On his recognition Burns said, “I greatly appreciate the recognition, but this really is a team award that represents a lot of hard work by my staff and our players.”

Bellarmine also saw senior Karsen Leung recognized as a member of the All-ECAC First Team midfield. Leung put up strong numbers in 2013 leading Bellarmine in total points with 34 (11g 23a). Leung's 45 career assists also puts him in second on the Bellarmine career assist list.

In front of Ward, Sean Joyce was a defensive stalwart all season and the junior was named to the All-ECAC Second Team defense. Joyce scooped up 23 groundballs and caused ten turnovers on the year, consistently matching up with the opposing team's biggest offensive threat.

Sophomore Bobby Schmitt was also named to the All-ECAC Second Team as a specialist. In 2013 Schmitt led the Knights in caused turnovers with 26 and groundballs with 56. The long-pole also finished sixth on the team in scoring with 14 points (6g 8a) on the season. Schmitt continues to accumulate awards as the LSM was twice named the ECAC Specialist of the Week in 2013 and was a member of the ECAC All-Rookie Team in 2012.

Burns also had this to say of his players' recognition, “The recognition is great for our players, our program and Bellarmine, and is a tribute to how hard we worked to improve as a team all season.”
 
2013 ECAC All-Conference Teams and Awards