GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke senior attackman Justin Guterding has been named the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, and Notre Dame senior long stick midfielder John Sexton is this year’s Defensive Player of the Year. Virginia freshman midfielder Matt Moore has been named the ACC Freshman of the Year, while Syracuse’s John Desko is the ACC Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season.


 
Guterding, a three-time All-ACC selection, leads the league in points (87) and goals (51) and ranks second in assists (36). His goals and points total also are tops nationally. The Garden City, New York, native earned five ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors this season, and owns nine hat tricks, two games with six goals, eight outings with at least five points and six with three-plus assists. Guterding, a Tewaaraton Award nominee, is one of 13 players in NCAA Division I history to record 300 career points (currently 325) and is 29 points away from surpassing Matt Danowski’s career record of 353.
 


Sexton, also a three-time All-ACC selection, has helped the Fighting Irish defense to hold it opponents to 8.85 goals per game. Sexton owns 51 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers this season while helping Notre Dame to its second ACC Championship in program history and first since 2014. The Sudbury, Massachusetts, native, who has also added five points on three goals and two assists, is one of 25 Tewaaraton Award nominees.
 


Virginia rookie midfielder Moore has played in 16 games, while starting in 11. He ranks fifth overall on the Cavaliers’ points list with 31 on 17 goals and 14 assists. The Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, native scored a career-high five points on four goals and one assists in Virginia’s win over Syracuse in the semifinals of the ACC Championship, and added three assists against Notre Dame in the title game en route to earning All-Tournament Team honors.


 
Desko’s Syracuse squad posted a perfect 4-0 record in ACC play for the second straight season with one of the youngest teams in program history. The Orange’s current starting lineup features just two seniors, the fewest in Desko’s watch. Conversely, two true freshman have started the last-eight games in the Orange, which combine for the most freshman starts under Desko. The Orange have been ranked all 12 weeks of the season and currently sit at No. 12 in the Maverik Media Poll and No. 13 in the USILA top 20. The Orange looks to make its 38th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 19th under Desko’s watch. He is the first coach in ACC Men’s Lacrosse history to collect Coach of the Year honors four consecutive seasons (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018).
 
 
2018 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Guterding, Sr., A, Duke
Defensive Player of the Year: John Sexton, Sr., LSM, Notre Dame
Freshman of the Year: Matt Moore, Fr., M, Virginia
Coach of the Year: John Desko, Syracuse