KANSAS CITY, MO -- University of Delaware senior midfielder Alex Smith (at right), the nation’s top faceoff specialist each of the last three seasons, has been named one of 20 candidates for the 2007 Men’s Lacrosse Senior CLASS Award sponsored by Lowe’s.

Lowe’s, the second largest home improvement retailer in the world with 1,360 stores in 49 states, recently announced the addition of men’s lacrosse and three other NCAA sports (baseball, softball, men’s ice hockey) to the award program that originally was launched in 2001 with basketball.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School (CLASS), the program was conceived by veteran sportscaster Dick Enberg and launched in 2001-02 to honor the attributes of senior athletes who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior can bring.

Smith was joined on the candidates list by Harry Alford and Steve Whittenberg of Maryland, Mitch Belisle and Matt McMonagle of Cornell, Nick Bonacci of Dartmouth, Adam Crystal of Drexel, John Dunn of Colgate, Eric Heidenberger of Villanova, Patrick Heim of Penn State, Kiel Illg of Canisius, Zachary Jungers of Princeton, Peter Littell of Providence, Tony McDevitt of Duke, Steve Panarelli and Greg Rommel of Syracuse, Ricky Smith, Drew Thompson, and Kip Turner of Virginia, and Paul Stansik of Bucknell.

A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the award in April and a group consisting of media members, coaches, sponsors, and fans will select the overall winner, who will be announced May 26 at the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Final Four.

Smith, a senior midfielder and faceoff specialist from Timonium, MD (Boy’s Latin High School), currently leads all NCAA Division I players in faceoff winning percentage (138-36, .793) and groundballs per game (10.38) and has led the Blue Hens to a 6-2 record and No. 12 national ranking by the United States Intercollegiate Coaches Association.

A two-time All-American and three-time All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, Smith led the NCAA in faceoff pct. in both 2005 and 2006 and currently holds NCAA Division I national records for faceoff winning percentage in a game (21 for 21 vs. Wagner in 2006) and career faceoff victories (854).