Minnesota Swarm defenseman Ryan Cousins and Buffalo Bandits transition player Mark Steenhuis were named Monday as the National Lacrosse League's Defensive Player of the Year and Transition Player of the Year, respectively.

Cousins, who also won the award last season, played in all sixteen games this season for Minnesota, leading a defense that finished with a franchise-record ten wins. He scored nine goals, two of them overtime game-winners, and dished out five assists this season.

"Ryan is our captain and the main ingredient in our quick transition from expansion team to competitor," Minnesota general manager Marty O'Neill said. "He is always assigned to stop one of the top two offensive players among our opponents and does a great job."

"He's just as valuable in our dressing room as a vocal leader, with great character and tremendous people skills," O'Neill added. "He also has the green light to head up the floor when he sees a scoring opportunity."

Steenhuis, meanwhile, earned Transition Player honors by scoring 34 goals and handing out 41 assists for Buffalo this season. His goal and point (75) totals were best among all transition players leaguewide, and his 121 loose ball recoveries placed in among the top five at his position.

Steenhuis was honored as Transition Player of the Week four times this season.

Previous Defensive Player of the Year recipients include Brodie Merrill (2006), Andrew Turner (2005), Taylor Wray (2004, tie), Cam Woods (2004, tie), Jim Moss (2003) and Pat Coyle (2002).

The only previous winner of the Transition Player of the Year award was Steve Toll (2007).