CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Loyola Maryland men's lacrosse team swept the 2020 preseason major awards with junior Kevin Lindley earning preseason offensive player of the year honors as the League announced its preseason honors Monday. In addition, teammate senior Ryan McNulty claimed the Men's Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Greyhounds were selected as the team to take home the 2020 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship Title. Loyola Maryland and Army West Point both collected 111 points, but Loyola was the preseason favorite by virtue of eight first-place votes, while Army West Point recorded seven first-place votes.
The Lehigh Mountain Hawks earned the remaining three first-place votes and stand third in the poll with 99 points. Boston University received 76 points for fourth, Navy took fifth with 59 points, while Bucknell and Holy Cross tied for sixth with 55 points each. Colgate took eighth place (31) as Lafayette rounded out the poll at ninth with 15 points.
The 2020 Preseason All-Patriot League team includes a pair of student-athletes who earned first-team all-League honors last season and 10 that received second-team accolades. Lehigh placed five student-athletes on the preseason team; senior attackman Andrew Pettit, senior midfielder Andrew Eichelberger, junior defender Teddy Leggett, senior faceoff specialist Conor Gaffney, and senior short-stick defensive midfielder Christian McHugh. Army had three honorees on the team with sophomore attackman Brendan Nichtern, senior midfielder Matt Manown and senior defender Tom Rigney, while Loyola also had three on the team in junior attackman Kevin Lindley, sophomore defender Cam Wyers and senior long-stick midfielder Ryan McNulty. Holy Cross' senior attackman Kevin Kodzis and senior midfielder Sean Mullaney, Bucknell junior defender Bryant Boswell, Colgate senior midfielder Griffin Brown and Navy senior goalie Ryan Kern rounded out the team.
Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross and Lafayette all open the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 1, followed by the Midshipmen who start play on Friday, Feb. 7. League play begins on Saturday, Feb. 29, with five teams in action that afternoon. Full Composite Schedule
Nearly 50 men's lacrosse games can be seen on the Patriot League Network, while 10 additional games will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, including the semifinal and championship games.
Voting for the Patriot League men's lacrosse preseason poll, major awards and All-League team was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2020 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kevin Lindley, Loyola Maryland, Jr., A
* Lindley set the single-season goals scored record at Loyola with 60 last season, to break Eric Lusby's total of 54 from 2012.
* The junior finished third in the nation in goals and goals per game (3.53).
* Lindley was named to the All-Patriot League First Team, the Academic All-Patriot League team and was a USILA All-American Honorable Mention.
2020 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan McNulty, Loyola Maryland, Sr., LSM
* McNulty capped his junior year with 65 groundballs and a team-leading 25 caused turnovers. He also scored two goals and dished two assists.
* The senior posted a season-high six groundballs in the team's 13-9 victory over Army West Point last April.
* McNulty was named to the All-Patriot League First Team and was a USILA All-American Honorable Mention.
Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Loyola Maryland – 111 (8 first-place votes)
2. Army West Point – 111 (7 first-place votes)
3. Lehigh – 99 (3)
4. Boston University – 76
5. Navy – 59
T-6. Bucknell – 55
T-6. Holy Cross - 55
8. Colgate – 31
9. Lafayette – 15
Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: Brendan Nichtern, Army West Point, So.
Attack: Kevin Kodzis, Holy Cross, Sr.
Attack: Andrew Pettit, Lehigh, Sr.
Attack: Kevin Lindley, Loyola Maryland, Jr.
Midfielder: Matt Manown, Army West Point, Sr.
Midfielder: Griffin Brown, Colgate, Sr.
Midfielder: Sean Mullaney, Holy Cross, Sr.
Midfielder: Andrew Eichelberger, Lehigh, Sr.
Defense: Tom Rigney, Army West Point, Sr.
Defense: Bryant Boswell, Bucknell, Jr.
Defense: Teddy Leggett, Lehigh, Jr.
Defense: Cam Wyers, Loyola Maryland, So.
Goalkeeper: Ryan Kern, Navy, Sr.
Face-Off Specialist: Conor Gaffney, Lehigh, Sr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Ryan McNulty, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Christian McHugh, Lehigh, Sr.
Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.