Army West Point Athletics
Surdick Earns Prestigious Schmeisser Award
May 23, 2019 | Men's Lacrosse
Three Black Knights Earn All-America Honors
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Following an outstanding senior season, Johnny Surdick of the Army West Point men's lacrosse team was named the William C. Schmeisser Award winner by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association on Thursday. The award is annually presented to the most outstanding defensive player in the nation.
Surdick also earned First Team USILA All-America honors for the first time in his career. Senior goalie AJ Barretto was tabbed a Second Team All-American and freshman attacker Brendan Nichtern garnered All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
"I am really proud and happy for John winning the most prestigious award that a defenseman can win," said head coach Joe Alberici. "Being selected as the Nation's best defender is one of greatest honors you can have, and it is so well deserved. He consistently matched up the opponent's best offensive player, and no matter if they were midfield or low attack, we based our defense around him being able to take that individual out of play. We relied on him at the wing on the faceoff, in ground ball play and to ignite our transition. He is very worthy of this honor."
Surdick is the ninth Cadet in Army's history to earn the Schmeisser Award with Bob Henry being the last in 1981.
After earning All-America Honorable Mention nods his sophomore and junior seasons, Surdick garnered first team distinction following a Patriot League team Championship, Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors and First Team-All Patriot League praise.
The senior captain had a tremendous impact on Army's success this season. He led the team in ground balls (64) and caused turnovers (36). The next best on the team in caused turnovers totals 15. The Odenton, Md., native boasts 176-career ground balls and 103 caused turnovers.
"AJ had a tremendous career in the Army lacrosse program, but his greatest was this season," said Alberici. "His singular impact this season in terms of victories was at another level beyond anyone I've ever coached. He was amongst the nation's best in goals against average, save percentage and scoring defense. That is such a small piece of the impact he had in our program as far as his on-field ability in the clearing game and gaining us possessions outside of the goal. This is a well-deserved recognition for AJ."
Barretto had his best season in cage for Army with a 13-5 record. The Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player finished the year with the second-best goals against average in the NCAA at 8.58. Barretto totaled 201 saves during his senior campaign and a .576 save percentage to rank sixth nationally.
The Darlington, Md., native finished his career with 572 saves which slates him fourth in the Black Knights' record books. His 13 wins in a single-season was a program record for the Black Knights as well. This is Barretto's first Inside Lacrosse Media All-America honor in his career.
En route to the Patriot League Championship title, Barretto backed his team with a 5.40 goals against average, .698 save percentage and 12 or more saves in each performance. The senior posted three wins in six days to be named the MVP.
"The coaching staff had high expectations coming out of the fall season for Brendan," said Alberici. "What he accomplished and did for our offense far exceeded anything we could have thought a plebe could do here at the Academy. His ability to handle all that the academy throws at a plebe and to play at the level that he played, consistently taking on every opponent's best defender, while still performing at an extremely high level is remarkable. A big part of Brendan's greatness is his ability to make everyone else around him better. He brought outstanding vision and toughness, but more importantly his unselfish style of play was pivotal to our offense's success."
Nichtern is just the third freshman in Army's 102-year history to receive USILA All-America honors. (However, freshmen couldn't play on varsity at the academy until 1972). Slabowski earned the recognition in 1981 and Jose Olivero in 1975.
The Massapequa, N.Y., native was the nation's top freshman in scoring this season. Nichtern tallied 30 goals and added 50 assists for 80 points. He broke Army's single-season assist record and ranks second in single-season points. In career numbers, the rookie's 50 helpers ranks 19th all-time.
Nichtern was an All-Patriot League Second Team and All-Tournament Team member. He ranks seventh nationally in assists with 2.78 per game and is first among freshmen. In points, Nichtern is slated 20th (4.44 per game) and is second among freshmen.
The Black Knights boasted a program record 13 wins this season. Win number 13 came in the Patriot League Championship game.
Surdick also earned First Team USILA All-America honors for the first time in his career. Senior goalie AJ Barretto was tabbed a Second Team All-American and freshman attacker Brendan Nichtern garnered All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
"I am really proud and happy for John winning the most prestigious award that a defenseman can win," said head coach Joe Alberici. "Being selected as the Nation's best defender is one of greatest honors you can have, and it is so well deserved. He consistently matched up the opponent's best offensive player, and no matter if they were midfield or low attack, we based our defense around him being able to take that individual out of play. We relied on him at the wing on the faceoff, in ground ball play and to ignite our transition. He is very worthy of this honor."
Surdick is the ninth Cadet in Army's history to earn the Schmeisser Award with Bob Henry being the last in 1981.
After earning All-America Honorable Mention nods his sophomore and junior seasons, Surdick garnered first team distinction following a Patriot League team Championship, Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors and First Team-All Patriot League praise.
The senior captain had a tremendous impact on Army's success this season. He led the team in ground balls (64) and caused turnovers (36). The next best on the team in caused turnovers totals 15. The Odenton, Md., native boasts 176-career ground balls and 103 caused turnovers.
"AJ had a tremendous career in the Army lacrosse program, but his greatest was this season," said Alberici. "His singular impact this season in terms of victories was at another level beyond anyone I've ever coached. He was amongst the nation's best in goals against average, save percentage and scoring defense. That is such a small piece of the impact he had in our program as far as his on-field ability in the clearing game and gaining us possessions outside of the goal. This is a well-deserved recognition for AJ."
Barretto had his best season in cage for Army with a 13-5 record. The Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player finished the year with the second-best goals against average in the NCAA at 8.58. Barretto totaled 201 saves during his senior campaign and a .576 save percentage to rank sixth nationally.
The Darlington, Md., native finished his career with 572 saves which slates him fourth in the Black Knights' record books. His 13 wins in a single-season was a program record for the Black Knights as well. This is Barretto's first Inside Lacrosse Media All-America honor in his career.
En route to the Patriot League Championship title, Barretto backed his team with a 5.40 goals against average, .698 save percentage and 12 or more saves in each performance. The senior posted three wins in six days to be named the MVP.
"The coaching staff had high expectations coming out of the fall season for Brendan," said Alberici. "What he accomplished and did for our offense far exceeded anything we could have thought a plebe could do here at the Academy. His ability to handle all that the academy throws at a plebe and to play at the level that he played, consistently taking on every opponent's best defender, while still performing at an extremely high level is remarkable. A big part of Brendan's greatness is his ability to make everyone else around him better. He brought outstanding vision and toughness, but more importantly his unselfish style of play was pivotal to our offense's success."
Nichtern is just the third freshman in Army's 102-year history to receive USILA All-America honors. (However, freshmen couldn't play on varsity at the academy until 1972). Slabowski earned the recognition in 1981 and Jose Olivero in 1975.
The Massapequa, N.Y., native was the nation's top freshman in scoring this season. Nichtern tallied 30 goals and added 50 assists for 80 points. He broke Army's single-season assist record and ranks second in single-season points. In career numbers, the rookie's 50 helpers ranks 19th all-time.
Nichtern was an All-Patriot League Second Team and All-Tournament Team member. He ranks seventh nationally in assists with 2.78 per game and is first among freshmen. In points, Nichtern is slated 20th (4.44 per game) and is second among freshmen.
The Black Knights boasted a program record 13 wins this season. Win number 13 came in the Patriot League Championship game.
Players Mentioned
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