Men's Lacrosse | 5/10/2011 12:44:17 PM

ROCHESTER, NY -- Senior long-stick midfielder MJ Kiekebelt (Caledon, Ontario/St. Andrews College/Aurora) was named the 2011 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year on Tuesday. Kiekebelt is the first defender to earn player of the year honors in conference history.

Kiekebelt, who was named to the all-conference first team for the third consecutive year, finished with 56 ground balls in Empire 8 regular season play. He scored two goals and assisted on three others in two conference tournament games, totaling 12 ground balls.

Kiekebelt leads the team with 108 ground balls and 48 caused turnovers, while contributing 17 points offensively on seven goals and 10 assists. He is seventh all-time at RIT with 315 ground balls, has 153 caused turnovers, and has 35 career points on 20 goals and 15 assists.

RIT, a perfect 17-0 on the season and two-time winners of the Empire 8 title, received a first round bye and will face the winner between Denison and Ohio Wesleyan in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, May 14 at RIT Field.