TOWSON, Md. -- Seven players from the Elizabethtown College men's lacrosse team stood out to the Landmark Conference coaches as the Blue Jays set a program record with seven all-conference selections, including five First Team honorees. Jeremy Klipple was named the Landmark Defensive Player of the Year. Mike Scrafano, Andrew Watts, Jeff Bloom, Jon Knapp, Griffin Liebsch, and Tom Mahoney also earned All-Landmark honors.

Klipple was one of two defensemen selected all-conference. The senior broke the school's caused turnover record earlier in the season and currently leads the Landmark Conference in that department, both overall and in conference. He has recorded at least 45 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers for the Blue Jays all four years. Along with his 29 CT this year, Klipple has scooped up 49 ground balls. A 2018 USILA/Nike Honorable Mention All-American, Klipple spent his season matching up with the top players lined up across from him. He recently held assists and points leader Colton Dick of Susquehanna without a point this past Saturday in the Jays' 7-4 win. It is the second straight season with a major conference award for Klipple and third straight on the First Team.

Bloom has been a starter on defense all season long next to Klipple and helped Elizabethtown to a Landmark-high 68 caused turnovers as a team. Bloom, along with Klipple, handle the ball out of the back in clear situations and assist in setting up the attack at the other end. The Miller Place, N.Y. native has 33 ground balls this season, which ties a career high. He's also caused at least 10 turnovers for the second consecutive season. Bloom was a Second Team Defense selection for the second year in a row.

Scrafano has done a bit of both on the attack for E-town. While his goal total this season isn't up where it was a season ago, the junior has taken on more of a facilitator's role in 2019. Scrafano has a career-high 19 assists in 16 games and is ninth among Landmark players in points during league play. His 42 points this season (23g, 19a) are tenth in the Landmark while his assist total is tied for sixth. He is one of three players for the Blue Jays to have recorded at least 20 goals this season and leads the team with his 23. A Second Team Attack last year, Scrafano was named to the First Team for the first time.

Watts has enjoyed a career year for the Blue Jays in his final season. Already with a career-best 20 goals and 25 points, another assist will tie his career high with two to establish a new one. The senior has thrived this season in the extra man situations with a team-high six man up goals. His six are tied for second in the Landmark Conference. Watts has three hat tricks this season and has scored at least once in 13 of the 16 games for Elizabethtown. He was named to the First Team Midfield, the first all-conference honor of his career.

While Knapp's statistical totals may not look as flashy as others, his work rate and responsibilities on the field have been a critical piece to the Jays' success. Knapp spends much of his play in a defensive capacity and contributes to E-town clears in order to get the ball up to the attack and allow the offensive players to get in. Knapp's tenacity and warrior-like qualities are evident, and while those don't show up on the stat sheet, the importance of his role on the team is clear cut. A Second Team choice at short stick defensive midfield, Knapp was selected to the First Team for the first time in his career.

Often regarded as the swiss army knife of positions in lacrosse, successful teams have standout long stick midfielders, and Elizabethtown has that in Liebsch. Returning from an injury suffered last season, Liebsch has been a playmaker for the Blue Jays all season and has gotten stronger as the season's worn on. The junior serves many purposes for coach Chris Perzinski; winning face-off ground balls, clearing, creating and supporting transition offense, riding the opponents clear, defending the opposition's top midfielders. Liebsch has tied a career-high with four goals this season and 14 caused turnovers along with a career-best 45 ground balls. The Downingtown West product brings a fire and an energy to the Blue Jays that help give the team an edge. Liebsch was selected Second Team Long Stick Midfield, his first all-conference honor.

In goal, Mahoney has allowed the fewest goals in the six-game conference schedule and finished with the lowest GAA of the Landmark goalies. Mahoney was big, especially of late with the Blue Jays winning five straight league games to earn the top overall seed. In the final three games in the Landmark against Drew, Scranton, and Susquehanna, Mahoney allowed three goals per game (9g in 3gm) and Elizabethtown finished the season with the top scoring defense in and out of conference action. The junior played a career-high 896 minutes this season and has made a career-high 160 saves. He now ranks third all-time in saves and is tied for third all-time in men's lacrosse program history in wins. Mahoney is the Landmark Conference First Team Goalie, his first all-conference honor.

Elizabethtown will host Catholic tomorrow at Wolf Field for a Landmark Conference semifinal matchup at 4 p.m. Tickets for the semifinal game are as follows: $7 for adults, $4 for Non-Landmark students and seniors (62+). Landmark students (with ID) as well as Landmark faculty & staff (with ID) and youth (10 and under) are able to get into the game for free.