Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/23/26
From Press Release
The Army West Point men’s lacrosse team was selected as the 2026 Patriot League men’s lacrosse preseason favorite with 63 points and seven first-place votes. The Black Knights and Navy each had two student-athletes garner major awards, when the League office announced the honors on Wednesday.
Boston University claimed the second spot in the poll with 56 points and two first-place votes, while Navy tallied 40 points in third. Loyola Maryland placed fourth with 39 points, followed by Lafayette with 37 points to round out the top five. Lehigh earned 33 points, followed by defending Patriot League champion Colgate (32), Bucknell (15) and Holy Cross (9).
Lehigh placed two players on the preseason All-League Team, including senior defender Luke McAuliffe and senior long-stick midfielder Richard Checo. Lehigh was picked No. 6, one spot behind Lafayette.
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point – 63 (7 first-place votes)
2. Boston University – 56 (2)
3. Navy – 40
4. Loyola Maryland – 39
5. Lafayette – 37
6. Lehigh – 33
7. Colgate – 32
8. Bucknell –15
9. Holy Cross – 9
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr., Midfielder, Roswell, Ga./Roswell
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr., Defender, Reistertown, Md./McDonogh School
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year
Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., Faceoff Specialist, North Potomac, Md./McDonogh School
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr., Goalkeeper, Acworth, Ga./Allatoona
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr., M
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr., D
Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., FO
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr., GK
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
Attack: Hill Plunkett, Army West Point, So.
Attack: Timothy Shannehan, Boston University, So.
Attack: Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Sr.
Attack: Matt Minicus, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Midfielder: Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr.
Midfielder: Andrew Pape, Boston University, So.
Midfielder: Peter Grandolfo, Bucknell, Jr.
Midfielder: Jack Ponzio, Navy, So.
Defense: John Sullivan, Army West Point, Sr.
Defense: Connor Kehm, Boston University, Sr.
Defense: Luke McAuliffe, Lehigh, Sr.
Defense: AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr.
Goalkeeper: Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr.
Faceoff Specialist: Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Richard Checo, Lehigh, Sr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Keagan Treacy, Army West Point, Sr.
