Mater Dei’s Jack Cudzil did not allow a goal during Trinity League play, had 15 takeaways this season and was crucial in leading Mater Dei to its first CIF Southern Section championship game appearance.

“Jack was our rock on defense this year,” Mater Dei coach Knute Kraus said. “He was tasked with covering the top offensive player of every team we played and he rose to the occasion shutting guys down.”

The numbers support Kraus’ notion that Cudzil rose to the occasion.

Cudzil had three takeaways in the CIF championship game against Loyola and two in the semifinals against Santa Margarita. Mater Dei’s defense allowed just 4.6 goals per game during league play and had a shutout against Orange Lutheran.

Cuzdil was named the Trinity League MVP and will play college lacrosse at Penn next season.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brendan Finnerty, San Clemente: San Clemente’s boys lacrosse team has had success during coach Brendan Finnerty’s nine-year tenure as the head coach, but the Tritons needed the right senior class to get over the hump and win a CIF title.

Finnerty led the group of 17 seniors on San Clemente’s team to a CIF-SS Division 2 championship this season. The Tritons allowed just 13 goals in four playoff games, which included a shutout of league rival Aliso Niguel in the semifinals.

“The defense as a whole is the foundation of this team and we wouldn’t be here without them,” Finnerty said after winning the CIF championship. “They are absolute studs. I know people make fun of how boring our games are but I don’t care. We play the style that helps us win and our defense makes that happen.”

In the championship game, San Clemente beat previously undefeated Dos Pueblos 8-7.

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM

Jackson Bennett, Foothill, Sr., Defense

Brady Booen, Santa Margarita, So., Attack

Jack Cudzil, Mater Dei, Sr., Defense (Player of the Year)

Dylan Eidsvold, Foothill, Sr., Defense

Quentin Hodge, Servite, Sr., Attack

Garrett Ip, Corona del Mar, Sr., Midfield

Brady Kezelman, Santa Margarita, Sr., Defense

Graham Kitcher, JSerra, Sr., Defense

Colin Kohl, San Clemente, Sr., Defense

Sinjin Kroener, Mater Dei, Sr., Attack

Owen Majit, Corona del Mar, Sr., Attack

Jack Pearl, JSerra, Sr., Goalie

Tavin Russell, Foothill, Sr., Midfield

Tommy Smith, Aliso Niguel, Sr., Attack

Mason Stephens, JSerra, Sr., Attack

Brendan Strader, Mater Dei, Sr., Attack

Andrew Toubin, St. Margaret’s, Jr., Attack

Hugo Villalba, Mater Dei, Sr., Face-off specialist

Ben Wehage, Foothill, Sr., Attack

Charlie Widmer, Los Alamitos, Sr., Attack

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM

Boston Badraun, Tesoro, Sr., Goalie

Carson Barber, St. Margaret’s, So., Attack

Dom DiFrancesco, Corona del Mar, Sr., Goalie

Sam Heafner, Mater Dei, Jr., Goalie

Presley Jomphe, Crean Lutheran, Jr., Face-off specialist

Mattias Kremer, Servite, Sr., Midfield

Sam LaMarre, San Clemente, Sr., Defense

Drake Laszewski, San Clemente, Sr., Defense

Addy McKellar, Mater Dei, Jr., Long-stick midfield

Harper O’Hara, Mater Dei, Jr., Attack

Kevin Ratzlaff, Santa Margarita, Jr., Face-off specialist

Landon Schweer, Trabuco Hills, Sr., Midfield

Kyle Seinturier, Foothill, Jr., Midfield

Gabriel Seldow, JSerra, Sr., Midfield

Noah Sewell, Foothill, Jr., Long-stick midfield

Jack Shea, St. Margaret’s, Jr., Midfield

James Stevens, Los Alamitos, Sr., Midfield

Nolan Taylor, Santa Margarita, Sr., Attack

Brody Wallace, Crean Lutheran, Sr., Attack

Hudson Zalewski, Aliso Niguel, Sr., Midfield