Army men’s lacrosse has been selected as the preseason favorite in the Patriot League, and two Black Knights have earned major recognition.
Senior Sean Byrne was named the league’s preseason goalkeeper of the year and senior midfielder Evan Plunkett was named the preseason offensive player of the year. Both players were named USA Lacrosse preseason All-Americans as well.
Other Army players named to the preseason Patriot League team are sophomore attack Hill Plunkett; senior defender John Sullivan; and, senior short-stick defensive midfielder Keagan Treacy.
Plunkett, from Roswell, Georgia, was the league’s 2024 offensive player of the year, following 14 goals and 16 assists – he has 64 goals and 60 assists for his career. He is a three-time All-American by USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse.
Byrne, from Acworth, Georgia, was the league’s 2024 goalkeeper of the year after leading the nation in goals against average (7.50) and save percentage (.607), in addition to making 147 saves. He is the nation’s active leader in goals against (8.56). He was a third-team All-American last season by USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse.
Army earned seven of the nine first-place votes from the coaches, allowing the Black Knights to finish ahead of Boston University, third-place Navy, Loyola (Md.), Lafayette, Lehigh, Colgate, Bucknell and Holy Cross.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
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Patriot League preseason awards
Offensive player – Evan Plunkett, Army, Sr., MF
Defensive player – A.J. Marsh, Navy, Jr., D
Faceoff specialist – Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr.
Goalkeeper – Sean Byrne, Army, Sr.
Team: Attack – Hill Plunkett, Army, Soph.; Timothy Shannehan, Boston Univ., Soph.; Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Sr.; Matt Minicus, Loyola, Sr.; Midfield – Evan Plunkett, Army, Sr.,; Andrew Pape, Boston Univ., Soph.; Peter Grandolfo, Bucknell, Jr.; Jack Ponzio, Navy, Soph.; Defense – John Sullivan, Army, Sr.; Connor Kehm, Boston Univ., Sr.; Luke McAuliffe, Lehigh, Sr.; A.J. Marsh, Navy, Jr.; Goalkeeper – Sean Byrne, Army, Sr.; Faceoff specialist – Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr.; Long-stick midfielder – Richard Checo, Lehigh, Sr.; Short-stick defensive midfielder – Keagan Treacy, Army, Sr.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Patriot League favorite Army men’s lacrosse earns two top preseason awards
Reporting by Ken McMillan, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
