The Lt. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Award — also known as the "Don MacLaughlin Award" — has been given annually since 1973 by the

United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of member institutions and organizations with college lacrosse programs at all levels of competition, including the three NCAA divisions and non-NCAA schools, at both the varsi ...

(USILA) to the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

's most outstanding

college lacrosse College lacrosse is played by student-athletes at colleges and university, universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played at both the varsity and club levels. College lacrosse ...

midfielder. The award is presented to the best midfielder in Division I, Division II, and — until recently — Division III. The outstanding midfielder in Division III now receives the new "Fran McCall Award".2009 USILA Awards
(box title is "2009 USILA Coaches of the Year Announced") ''and then scroll down'' to the lower box, entitled "2009 USILA Special Awards". The first regular award listed is: "Lt. j.g. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Award - Outstanding Midfielder". USILA official website. Retrieved 2010-02-19. Also, the new "Long Pole Midfielder of the Year" award is given in Divisions II and III. The award is named after LTJG Donald Clay MacLaughlin, Jr, USN, United States Naval Academy (USNA), Class of 1963, Catonsville High School, Class of 1959. An

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

n midfielder for

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

, who died on a combat mission in South Vietnam in 1966. MacLaughlin was a leading midfielder and scorer on three consecutive Division 1 National Championship Navy Lacrosse Teams ('61, '62, '63), and First Team All-American. He was also an All-American and Captain of the 1963 Navy Soccer team, leading Navy to its first appearance in the final NCAA Division-1 championship game. As USNA's best athlete, "Mac" was awarded the

U.S. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy is the sec ...

's most prestigious, athletic award, "The Sword", presented by the Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA). InsideLacrosse.com: Lacrosse Positional Awards: Who they're named for

Award winners by year (Division I)

Number of awards by school (Division I)

References

{{Lacrosse topics College lacrosse trophies and awards in the United States Awards established in 1973

Award winners by year (Division I)

Number of awards by school (Division I)

See also

References