Duke attackman Guterding named ACC top rookie

Todd Bauders, TSN via theACC.com
Todd Bauders, TSN via theACC.com

DURHAM, N.C.— It was no surprise that Duke Blue Devils freshman attackman Justin Guterding was announced as the 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year on Tuesday.

That was determined by a vote of the league’s coaches, and his league-best 46 goals made it easy to confirm that reasoning.

Guterding’s started in all 16 of the Blue Devils’ games this season, and has posted at least a point in each and a goal in all except one.

He’s finished with three six-goal performances this season, starting off with his first-ever collegiate start, helping Duke to fend off a pesky High Point Panthers squad in a 16-13 opening-season win back in early February.

Three weeks after that, he recorded a career-high nine points in a 21-14 victory over Harvard.

Guterding is the fifth Duke player to win the award, joining Michael Manley, Zack Greer, Matt Danowski and Scott Diggs as previous Blue Devils who’ve received the honor.

He helps lead the Duke offense, currently sitting second overall with 62 points which ranks him 13th on the Duke single-season records list for goals – 11 shy of matching Greer’s freshman record of 57 set in 2005, as well as sitting 10 points shy of matching Greer’s points record of 72.

Guterding’s even humbled current assistant coach and former Duke attackman Danowski’s 44-goal performance in 2007, and only needs four more goals to pass Danowski’s career-best of 50 from 2005.

Most recently, he tallied six points (5g, 1a) in the Blue Devils’ run in the ACC Tournament, and leads the team with nine hat tricks.

Guterding will help send the Senior class off when the fifth-ranked Blue Devils end the regular season against the Boston University Terriers at Koskinen Stadium on Sunday, with opening faceoff taking place at 2 p.m.