SUNY Potsdam junior Rashaun Durden was named the 2011 State University of New York Athletic Conference Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year, and Bears coach Rick Berkman was honored as the league's Paul Rose Coach of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday.

In addition, senior Pat Corbine, juniors Zeppy O'Geen, Peter Pike and sophomore Robbie Ashlaw earned All-SUNYAC second team accolades.

The Bears (8-9 overall, 4-2 SUNYAC) wrapped up their 2011 campaign on Saturday, falling in the SUNYAC Tournament championship game at NCAA title contender and powerhouse Cortland. Potsdam finished second in the league during the regular season, earning a No. 2 seed and hosting its first-ever home game in the SUNYAC Tournament. The Bears earned the first conference tournament victory in school history last Wednesday, defeating third-seeded Geneseo 18-17.

Durden (Buffalo, N.Y.) is the school's first-ever SUNYAC Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year. The defenseman started 16 of the team's 17 games, posting 12 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers, good for third on the team. A 2010 honorable mention All-SUNYAC selection, Durden defended against the opposition's top offensive player in every contest, earning a reputation around the league as a disruptive force on the defensive end. He was a 2011 captain and an All-SUNYAC Tournament selection.

“Going into every game, we needed to contain one offensive player, and Rashaun dominated the opposition,” Berkman said. “He goes 100 percent in practice every day, and is a great leader on and off the field.”

Corbine earned his spot as the Bears' starting goalie just prior to conference play, and didn't disappoint. The Canton, N.Y., native earned SUNYAC Goalie of the Week honors twice and scored one of the most uplifting goals of the season in the team's 9-8 win over Geneseo on April 16. He finished with an 11.08 goals against average and 128 saves in 12 games.

“Pat gave our team a great boost when he took over as our starter,” Berkman said. “He consistently made 10-15 saves, which was exactly what we needed out of our goalie. I couldn't be happier for anyone else on the team.”

A first-year junior, O'Geen led Potsdam in ground balls (94) and faceoff percentage (.593) while finishing third in the league in ground balls per game (5.69). He also posted 19 goals and seven assists as one of the team's most dangerous players on the field.

“Zeppy is a constant, every-game contributor,” Berkman said. “He gains ball possession, scores goals and is a physical presence. It definitely hurt not having him there for the SUNYAC championship game.”

Another junior in his first season with Potsdam, Pike led the team with 46 points on 24 goals and 22 assists, and totaled 16 ground balls. The Watertown, N.Y., native enjoyed a breakout performance in the SUNYAC Playoffs, tallying 10 points while finishing with a tournament-record six assists against Geneseo in the semifinals.

“Pike had a solid year for us, but I think he really catapulted himself onto the all-conference team with his performance against Geneseo in the tournament,” Berkman said.

Ashlaw finished just behind Pike with 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists). The attacker finished fourth in the conference in assists per game (1.88) and tied for second in the league with four game-winning goals, including the decisive tally against Geneseo in the SUNYAC semifinal game.

“Robbie had a great sophomore campaign after a solid year as a freshman,” Berkman said. “He's a kid we can count on offensively, but he also gets ground balls and clutch goals. He's just a guy we can count on game in and game out.”

Berkman earned his second SUNYAC Coach of the Year accolade after gaining his first award in 2007. In his 17th year at the helm, Berkman guided the Bears to their 14th postseason appearance and first-ever win in the SUNYAC Touranment.

“Any time you get an individual award, it's a reflection of the team and its accomplishments,” Berkman said. “I appreciate the award … it's a direct reflection of how hard the team worked this season.”

Joe Slavik of Cortland earned the league's Rookie of the Year award to round out individual honors.

Visit www.sunyac.com to view the complete 2011 All-SUNYAC Men's Lacrosse teams.