HAVERFORD, Pa. – Senior captain PJ Jackson has been named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the Haverford College men's lacrosse team as announced by the conference office. Jackson is the first player in program history to earn this award since its inception in 2014.
Jackson led the Fords in both ground balls (46) and caused turnovers (28) as he started all 15 games. In addition to his defensive player of the year award, Jackson was honored as a first-team All-Centennial Conference selection after earning honorable mention accolades a year ago. Jackson ranked among the top 10 players in the conference in both ground balls and caused turnovers. His caused turnover total was the third highest in the conference. He collected multiple ground balls in each of the team's last 14 contests and forced two or more turnovers in nine different contests. He also scored in transition against Cabrini and Dickinson.
A two-year starter, Jackson finishes his Haverford career ranked third all-time with 72 career caused turnovers. He also ranks in the top 20 in school history with 58 appearances. Causing 1.87 turnovers per game in his senior season, Jackson ranks eighth in school history. His career-best five caused turnovers during the Fords' 5-1 win at Gwynedd Mercy ranks as the ninth best single-game total at Haverford.
Justin Brendel represented Haverford on the Centennial Conference Sportsmanship Team. Brendel appeared in 14 games, collecting 17 ground balls and causing three turnovers. He also scored goals in Haverford's victories over Randolph-Macon and Muhlenberg.
Men's lacrosse finished the 2017 season with an overall record of 7-8. The Fords came within seconds of their first playoff appearance since 2011 before being denied by Swarthmore in the closing seconds of the regular season finale.