2009 All-Skyline Conference Men's Lacrosse Teams (PDF)
Montclair State University senior goalkeeper Thomas Bowers was selected as the Skyline Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year. Bowers, the anchor of the MSU defense, earned Co-Player of the Year honors last season. One of the top players in the history of the Red Hawk men’s lacrosse program, Bowers ranked in the top 10 all-time in saves in Division III. In Skyline Conference play this season, he ranked third in both goals-against average (8.22) and save percentage (.585) while playing against a strong schedule.
Montclair State University first-year sophomore Tyler Meth was selected as the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year. Meth was the conference’s top scorer, finishing the season with 49 goals, good for an average of 2.72 goals per game. He also ranked second in the conference in total points (62) and fourth in points per game (3.44). A three-time selection as Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week, Meth also paced the Red Hawks with four game-winning goals and 10 man-up goals.
In addition to earning Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year honors, Meth was also selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Skyline Conference Tournament. In two tournament games, he finished with a team-leading seven goals and an assist for eight points. In a 13-5 semifinal win over Farmingdale State, Meth scored five goals, including four in the first half as the Red Hawks sprinted to a 10-4 lead. He also had two goals and an assist in the championship game against Kean, helping Montclair State to a 7-6 victory and its first Skyline Conference title.
Richard Stockton College head coach Dick Rizk was selected as the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Ospreys to a 9-5 overall record along with a 4-1 mark in Skyline Conference play, which was good for second place. After being selected fifth in the Skyline preseason coaches’ poll, the Ospreys lost just one conference game during the regular season, falling to eventual champion Montclair State in a close 8-7 game. Rizk retired at the conclusion of the season after a coaching career that spanned more than 40 years.
Montclair State and Richard Stockton were selected as the co-recipients of the Skyline Conference Team Sportsmanship Award in men's lacrosse after displaying outstanding sportsmanship throughout the 2009 campaign.