Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/25/24
from Press Release
Lehigh men’s lacrosse senior Scott Cole was named the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while sophomore Richard Checo joined him on the preseason all-league team, as announced Thursday morning by the Patriot League.
In addition to the two landing on the all-league team, the Mountain Hawks were projected to finish fifth in the Patriot League after receiving a total of 82 votes and one first-place vote.
Last season, Cole was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year while also garnering first team All-Patriot League honors. Cole was Lehigh’s first Offensive Player of the Year honoree since 2015. The attackman recorded 75 points last season, tallying a team-high of 49 goals while also dishing out 26 assists. Cole was fifth in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse last season in points per game (5.00). Cole was also eighth in the NCAA in goals per game (3.27).
Checo earned first team All-Patriot League honors after leading all of NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse in caused turnovers (54) and caused turnovers per game (3.60). Checo also picked up a team-high of 64 ground balls. The sophomore defender also dished out four assists. Checo’s 54 caused turnovers were the most in a single season at Lehigh and the second most in a season in all of NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse.
Checo and Cole also both earned USA Lax Magazine Preseason All-American honors last week.
The Mountain Hawks have 33 returners and 11 first-years. Lehigh will open up the season on Feb. 3 against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Scott Cole, Lehigh, Sr., A/M, Dallas, Texas/McDonogh
* Cole, the reigning offensive player of the year, led the League and was eighth in the nation in goals per game (3.27) last season. The senior also led the League in points per game and was fifth in the nation (5.00).
* The senior recorded 14 multiple-point games and scored seven goals in 2023.
* Cole heads into his senior season with 90 goals, 38 assists and 128 career points.
2023 Season Awards: Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, All-Patriot League First Team member, Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Patriot League All-Tournament Team member, Inside Lacrosse Media DI Honorable Mention All-American, USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American, USILA Honorable Mention All-American
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
AJ Pilate, Army West Point, Jr., D, Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year
Will Coletti, Army West Point, Jr., FO, Monrovia, Md./Linganore High School
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Luke Staudt, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK, Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Scott Cole, Lehigh, Sr.
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – AJ Pilate, Army West Point, Jr.
Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Will Coletti, Army West Point, Jr.
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Luke Staudt, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
Attack: Reese Burek, Army West Point, Sr.
Attack: Vince D’Alto, Boston University, Gr.
Attack: Scott Cole, Lehigh, Sr.
Attack: Matt Minicus, Loyola Maryland, So.
Midfielder: Jake Morin, Army West Point, Sr.
Midfielder: Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, So.
Midfielder: Evan James, Loyola Maryland, Gr.
Midfielder: Max Hewitt, Navy, Sr.
Defense: AJ Pilate, Army West Point, Jr.
Defense: Patrick Morrison, Boston University, Gr.
Defense: Richard Checo, Lehigh, So.
Defense: Jackson Bonitz, Navy, Sr.
Goalkeeper: Luke Staudt, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
FaceOff Specialist: Will Coletti, Army West Point, Jr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Roy Meyer, Boston University, Gr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Mustang Sally, Loyola Maryland, Gr.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Army West Point – 126 (14 first-place votes)
Boston University – 103 (1)
Loyola Maryland – 99
Navy – 84 (1)
Lehigh – 82 (1)
Lafayette – 60 (1)
Bucknell – 44
Colgate – 33
Holy Cross – 17
