ATLANTA – After posting outstanding performances in the season’s first month of action, California’s Max McKone and Appalachian State’s Mikey Fifield have been named the US Lacrosse MCLA Players of the Month for February.

McKone has been the offensive catalyst for the Golden Bears, who have raced out to a 5-0 record and climbed to No. 5 in the country in the most recent Under Amour MCLA Division weekly poll. The Novato, Calif., native has scored 22 goals (4.4 gpg) to pace the Cal attack and is good for second most in the nation.

"I'll walk through the tunnel of Memorial Stadium and on to the field, and it's always the same scene rain or shine: Max at the far end with a bucket of balls wearing his helmet and gloves firing shot after shot, just punishing the goal,” said Cal coach Ned Webster. “Max is a phenomenal human being. He comes from a really fantastic family, and he's always positive, sportsmanlike and incredibly humble. I'm sure he'll be honored by this award, but the only word out of his mouth is 'Team. Team. Team.'"

Fifield has sparked the Mountaineers to a 4-0 start and a No. 21 ranking in the latest poll with superb goalie play. Playing every minute for App State, the Babylon, N.Y., product has posted a 7.75 goals against average and a 70.5 save percentage. Against No. 25 La.-Lafayette, Fifield turned away 24 shots and even dished out an assist in a 12-7 victory.

“He is a great player and a great person,” said Appalachian State coach Angelo Acitelli. “He’s definitely the leader of the team on and off the field. I couldn't think of a more deserving person to be recognized. He would probably be the only person on the team to think he isn't deserving.”

For their efforts, both McKone and Fifield will receive a one-year membership to US Lacrosse, the national governing body of the sport. Membership includes on-the-field insurance coverage, discounted tickets and apparel along with a subscription to US Lacrosse Magazine.

US Lacrosse Monthly Honor Roll

Division I
Amar Batra, Fr., A - Minnesota
Jannsen Levin, Sr., FOGO - Oregon State
Tim Peterson, Soph., A – Georgia Tech
Sean Pihl, Sr., G – Cal Poly

Division II
Alex Kowalski, Sr., M – Cal State Fullerton
Greg Swanson, Sr., M – Palm Beach Atlantic
Matt Weersing, Jr., FOGO – UT-Dallas
Jack Witt, Sr., LSM – Sierra Nevada