Donovan makes MCLA history - leads 11 Spartan All Americans

Patrick Donovan vs Brigham  Young at the MCLA D1 semifinal May 10, 2018 (pc: Lacrosse All Stars)

Senior captain Patrick Donovan was named 2018 first team All American at close defense and leads a list of 11 Spartans named to the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) All American team. The national champion Spartans placed six players on the first team, three players on the second team and  two players on the honorable mention list for the 2018 season. 

Donovan, from Forest Hills Central high school in Ada Michigan, became only the second player in MCLA history to earn three first team and one second team All American honors. Donovan was named second team All American after his freshman season in 2015 and has been a first team All American each of the past three seasons. He was named a MCLA Scholar Athlete for 2016 and 2017 and was recently awarded the Michigan State University College of Engineering Mike Sadler Competitive Edge Award for his senior capstone project in Applied Engineering Science.

Donovan was a first team Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA) all conference selection each of his four years, 2015 CCLA tournament defensive MVP and CCLA defensive Player of the Year in 2016 & 2017. Arizona State's Zack Handy (2015), considered one of the most dominant face off specialists in MCLA history, is the only other player with three first team and one second team All American awards. Donovan missed only one game in his entire career - the third game of a freshman spring break trip vs. Grand Canyon University in Phoenix - due to illness.

Earlier this year, Donovan was named by Virtually Varsity to the all-time starting lineup for Division 1 MCLA players - the only active player on the list. Click here for Virtually Varsity's "Ranking the Greats" article 

"Patrick's defensive skills & lacrosse IQ, being a four year starter and MCLA Scholar Athlete, and his countless hours of contribution to the team as a three year captain and co-president of the team's executive board are emblematic of what the MCLA and being a true student athlete are all about. He's had a phenomenal career at Michigan State." - Defensive Coordinator D.J. Lubs

Spartans joining Donovan as 2018 MCLA first team All Americans are senior Kevin Boland in goal, senior Hunter Stephens as the face off specialist, senior Sam Robbins at short stick defense, sophomore Ian Genord at long stick midfield and sophomore Bennett Osterink at attack. Boland was named the 2018 CCLA Defensive Player of the Year and 2018 MCLA Tournament MVP. Click here for MCLA.us All American announcement

Second team All Americans include sophomore midfielder Nick Bowman, sophomore short stick defender Sam Uecker and sophomore close defender Andrew Clay. 

Honorable Mention All American honors went to senior attacker Brett Braun and junior midfielder Blake Turner.

"Our strength in the middle of the field was second-to-none. When you have the MCLA's best face off specialist, goalie, long stick midfielder and short stick defenders you are going to be in the hunt for a national title. When you add in this team's skill and depth everywhere else at defense, midfield and attack it's clear that the best and most complete team won the D1 MCLA title this year.

Congratulations to all who were honored and it should be noted that Michigan State could legitimately have had several more players added to the All American list. Charlie Pistner, Mac Alexander, CJ Deal and Tom Smith also had incredible seasons and were instrumental to our success." - Head Coach Cam Holding

2018 MCLA National Champions! (pc: Tricia Donovan)