ATLANTA – After putting together dominant performances during the month, Brigham Young’s Jake Halversen and St. Thomas’ Cam Gelling have been named the MCLA Players of the Month presented by Lacrosse Specialties for April.

Halversen, a senior attackman out of Beaverton, Ore., led the Cougars to a 6-0 April that include five national ranked squads. He finished the period with 26 goals and seven assists for a total of 35 points.

In the RMLC championship game against archrival Colorado State, Halversen struck for seven goals and one assist in the victory.

“Jake is one of the most versatile and consistent offensive players that I have coached over the years,” said BYU coach Matt Schneck. “Whether it’s at attack or midfield, coming out of the box or playing the wing, he can do it all. There is even the occasional request to faceoff with a long pole, which we have practiced, just never tried in a game...yet.

“When he rides and gets ‘stuck’ on defense, it’s usually intentional because he wants to play defense and does a great job when he’s down there. Of course, no man is an island and Jake is surrounded by a talented group of players that help each other succeed on and off the field.”

Gelling, a sophomore attackman out of St. Michael, Minn., led the Tommies to a 6-2 mark in April with the two setbacks coming by a goal to a pair of Top 5 teams. In the eight games, he had 28 goals and nine assists for 37 points.

He buried at least four goals in half the monthly contests and posted at least three points in all but one as St. Thomas went on to win the UMLC championship.

“Cam has become a leader of our offense in only his second season,” said St. Thomas offensive coordinator Ryan McNeil. “The preparation and attention to detail for each game is unmatched and has showed in his play. He may miss the net a few times, but we always tell him to keep shooting. And when it is on net, more than likely it’s a goal.”

“He has a great personality that he has shown more and more throughout the year. He has been able to throw jokes at the coaches here and there, showing how comfortable he has become within this family.”

For earning Player of the Month honors, Halversen and Gelling will receive a customized plaque from Lacrosse Specialties, the official trophy and award sponsor of the MCLA.

Lacrosse Specialties Honor Roll

Division I
Sam Bellomy, Jr. - Northeastern
Dante DeCollibus, Soph. - Chapman
Jacob Jackson, Gr. – Texas
Keaton Mohs, Sr. – Liberty
Pierce Quarles, Sr. – Georgia Tech
Johnny Rioux, Jr. – Michigan State
Zane Schwab, Sr. – UC Santa Barbara

Division II
Keaton Bean, Jr. – Northwest Nazarene
Austin Dulay, Fr. - Tulane
Nicholas Meola, Sr. – Florida Atlantic
Tyler Nichols, Jr. – UNC-Charlotte
Keegan Reilly, Sr. – Rhode Island
Luke Tardich, Jr. – Grand Valley State
James Ventura, Soph. – Cal State San Marcos