Notre Dame Fighting Irish lacrosse player Shawn Lyght has been named the 2026 defensive player of the year, winning this year’s William C. Schmeisser Award for best defensive player.
The defenseman has earned the honor for the second straight year. He’s only the eight player to do that, and the second Fighting Irish to it. Matt Landis was the other Notre Dame player to earn the award two seasons in a row, doing it in 2015 and 2016.
Five Notre Dame players have won the award overall.
Lyght is also a first-team All-American. He had 10 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls this season.
Notre Dame faces the 6 seed Syracuse Orange in the lacrosse Final Four on Saturday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. ET in Charlottesville, Va. You can watch it on ESPN2.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame lacrosse defender Shawn Lyght wins defensive player of year
Reporting by Tim Healey, Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
