LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With COVID-19 putting fall sports on the shelf this season, the Bellarmine Athletics Communication staff is using part of this time to shine the spotlight on some of the top student-athletes of the past 10 years by naming the Bellarmine All-Decade teams. The teams recognize student-athletes who competed for the Knights at least two seasons from the 2010-11 school year to the 2019-20 year. 
 
Today, we name the Bellarmine All-Decade Team for Lacrosse.  In keeping with the philosophy of using a "starting lineup" for the All-Decade Team, 12 players will be recognized: three attackmen, three midfielders, one long stick middie, three defensemen, a goalie and one specialist.

ATTACK

Tucker Ciessau (2014-2017)
Bellarmine's all-time leading Division I scorer with 127 points (83 goals, 44 assists), Ciessau was a central component of the Knights' offense all four years appearing in 51 games during his career.  Playing during a time when Bellarmine was a member of two conferences, the Scituate, Massachusetts native earned notice on the ECAC All-Rookie Team in 2014 before being named to three consecutive All-Southern Conference squads.

Ciessau's name appears throughout the Bellarmine Record Book, and he tops the list in career goals (83), shots (301), shots on goal (174), and he ranks tied for third in career assists with 44—just one shy of the school record of 45 co-held by Karsen Leung and Ian Miller.

Also a solid student, Ciessau was named to the SoCon Honor Roll three times and was named Academic All-Conference twice.

Cameron Gardner (2011-14)
Another dependable offensive weapon for the Knights throughout his career, Gardner made 51 appearances in a Bellarmine uniform and ranks fourth all-time in Bellarmine scoring with 92 points.  The Calgary, Alberta native rang up 71 goals in his career, which ranks second in school history, and his 21 assists rank tied for 14th all-time.  He also is one of three players holding the school record for most goals in a game with six (vs. Michigan 2/16/13).

Gardner also ranks in Bellarmine's top five in career shots with 233, and he is third in school history with 142 shots on goal.  He also was successful in the classroom and earned Academic All-ECAC honors in 2012 and 13.

Brian Wall (2015-18)
Like Ciessau and Gardner, Wall logged 51 games in his Bellarmine career and etched his name in the Bellarmine Record Book for his scoring ability.  The Penfield, New York native ranks 10th on BU's all-time lists in both scoring (75) and goals (48). His 27 career assists are tied for eighth most in school history.

A strong senior season saw Wall fire off 113 shots—a Bellarmine record at the time—leading to 25 goals and boosting him to fourth on the all-time shots list with 238. He also picked up All-SoCon accolades in 2018.

Another solid student, Wall was four-time SoCon Honor Roll honoree and was named Academic All-Conference his final three years.
 
MIDFIELD

Morgan Macko (2017-2020)
No. 3 on Bellarmine's all-time scoring list with 94 points, Macko accomplished the feat despite seeing his senior season cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak. His 61 career goals and 33 career assists both rank in BU's all-time top 10 (7th and 6th respectively).
Macko, whose older brother Graham also played for the Knights, made a name for himself quickly, notching 13 goals as a freshman while leading the team in shot percentage. Another outstanding student-athlete, the Orchard Lake, Michigan native garnered SoCon Academic All-Conference two times and was named to the SoCon's Honor Roll all four seasons.
 
Jack Perkins (2014-17)
Physically imposing at 6-5 and 220 pounds, Perkins used that size to establish strong offensive position and took advantage by firing 220 shots during his career to rank seventh all-time at Bellarmine. He was on target 127 times, which ranks sixth at Bellarmine for shots on goal.

Those shots translated to 49 goals, and he dished out 16 assists in his career to bring his scoring total to 65 points, which ranks 15th on BU's career list. Coming to Bellarmine from Coronado, California, Perkins appeared in 45 games as a Knight.
 
Ian Miller (2016-2019)
While Perkins was physically imposing, Miller proved that success on the field is not predicated by size. At 5-7 and 155 pounds, the Hoschton, Georgia native used quickness and toughness to craft an impressive collegiate lacrosse resume that is highlighted by seeing his name atop BU's all-time assist list—an honor he shares with Karsen Leung with 45 helpers.

Miller was a consistent performer throughout his Bellarmine career, making 51 appearances in his four seasons while totaling 80 career points, tied for eighth on BU's all-time list. Perhaps Miller's best performance in a single game came against Mercer in 2019 when he dished out a school record five assists to earn SoCon Player of the Week honors.
 
LONG STICK MIDFIELDER

Bobby Schmitt (2012-16)
While Bellarmine has been fortunate to have a number of outstanding Long Stick Midfielders through the years, Schmitt set the standard in 2014 when he earned honorable mention All-America honors while also picking up Specialist of the Year accolades in the ECAC.

Although an injury claimed his 2015 season, Schmitt came back to play in seven games in his senior campaign of 2016 and ended his career on top of BU's caused turnover list with 58. The Louisville native also shows up on the all-time ground balls list, ranking third with 139. Also dangerous on the offensive end of the field, Schmitt totaled 12 goals and 19 assists in his career.

A two-time All-ECAC performer, Schmitt also made the ECAC All-Rookie squad.  After Bellarmine moved to the Southern Conference, Schmitt also earned multiple recognitions from the SoCon with two honor roll notices and a Defensive Player of the Week nod.

DEFENSE

Colin Hart (2012-15)
Coming to Bellarmine from Brentwood, Tennessee, Hart became one of the top defensemen in BU history holding the No. 2 position on the Knights' career caused turnover list with 41 and ranking ninth in career ground balls with 86. He saved his best for last, earning 1st Team All-SoCon honors while causing 19 turnovers and collecting 37 ground balls in his senior year of 2015.  That same year, he was recognized as the SoCon Defensive Player of the Month in March.

Also a solid student, Hart became Bellarmine's first Academic All-American in lacrosse when the USILA honored him as a Scholar All-American in 2015. He also reaped Academic All-Conference and Honor Roll accolades from the SoCon.

Sean Joyce (2011-2014)
A two-time All-ECAC performer, Joyce chalked up 27 caused turnovers during his career, which ranked in Bellarmine's top five at the time of his graduation (currenlty T-11th).  He also scooped up 48 ground balls as a Knight.

The Highlands Ranch, Colorado native also was recognized for scholastic achievement, making the 2013 ECAC Academic All-Conference squad.

Taylor Stuart (2013-16)
Stuart earns a spot on the All-Decade Team on defense despite appearing mostly as an LSM at Bellarmine. A two-time All-SoCon first teamer as well as a SoCon Honor Roll member, Stuart ranks ninth on BU's career caused turnover list with 32 and is 12th in career ground balls with 80.

Hailing from Coquitlam, British Columbia, Stuart also contributed on offense, totaling five goals and nine assists in his career.

GOALIE

Dillon Ward (2010-13)
Ward holds the distinction of being the Knights' first All-American, earning Third Team accolades in 2013. The 6-5 native of Orangeville, Ontario owns virtually all the Bellarmine records for goalkeeping. His 576 saves are 251 ahead of second place, and Ward holds the Bellarmine record for save percentage, wins, and goals-against average. He's also sixth on the ground balls list with 120 to his credit. Ward didn't limit his prowess to defense, becoming one of the rare goalies to record a score when he hurled a long shot against Michigan in 2012 that found the net.

During his senior season when he earned All-America status, Ward led the nation in save percentage at 66.2, was named the ECAC Goalie of the Year, and was among 25 players nominated for the Tewaaraton Award.
 
SPECIALIST (Includes defensive midfielders & face off midfielders)

Karsen Leung (2009-2013)
A short stick defensive midfielder, Leung made his presence felt all over the field, posting impressive numbers on both the offensive and defensive ends.

As a defender, Leung ranks sixth in BU history with 35 caused turnovers and is fourth in ground balls with 137 to his credit. The Victoria, British Columbia native perhaps made a bigger impact on offense.  He's tied for the top spot on Bellarmine's all-time assist list with 45, and he ranks No. 11 in points with 74. Leung capped his career by earning 1st Team All-ECAC honors.

PLAYER OF THE DECADE NOMINEES:

Two Knights earned All-America honors this past decade, so those two earn the nod as Player of the Decade nominees:  Bobby Schmitt and Dillon Ward.

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