BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Loyola Maryland men’s soccer team finished atop the 2024 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll when the League office announced preseason honors.
Loyola Maryland received 150 points and 12 first-place votes while defending champion Boston University finished with 142 points and eight first-place votes to finish second in the poll. American (135), Colgate (103) and Lafayette (98) rounded out the top five. Navy (81), Army West Point (60), Holy Cross (51), Bucknell (40) and Lehigh (40) completed the men’s soccer preseason poll.
The Greyhounds’ Sean McEvoy (Jr., M), Jordy Luchies (Sr. D) and Dylan Van der Walt (Jr., GK) received Patriot League Preseason Men’s Soccer Midfielder, Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively. American graduate student forward Ethan Boyle claimed Patriot League Preseason Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year honors to round out the League’s preseason major awards.
McEvoy finished with career-highs across the board last season, including games started (17) and shots (21). Luchies collected First Team All-Patriot League honors for the second time in his career. Van der Walt finished among the League leaders in goals-against average (0.83) and save percentage (.786) to earn second-team All-League honors last season. Boyle posted six goals and 13 points for the Eagles last season.
American and Loyola Maryland placed a League-high four student-athletes on the preseason All-League squad, with Boston University and Holy Cross having two student-athletes recognized. Colgate is represented by one student-athlete to complete the 13-member preseason team.
Voting for the Preseason All-Patriot League Men’s Soccer Team, major awards, and the preseason poll was completed by Patriot League men’s soccer head coaches and sports information directors from the 10 League schools. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Ethan Boyle, American, Gr., F, Denver, Colo./Denver East
2023 Stats: 16 GP, 6 goals, 1 assist, 13 points
*Boyle started all 16 games for the Eagles, earning Second Team All-Patriot League honors in 2023.
*The graduate student registered career highs in goals (6), points (13) and shots on goal (8).
*His six goals, along with two game-winning goals and 13 points, all registered top 10 in the Patriot League.
*The Denver, Colo. native led American in shots last season (24 shots, 8 SOG).
2024 Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Sean McEvoy, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M, Goshen, Cavan, Ireland
2023 Stats: 17 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 points
*McEvoy finished with career-highs across the board, including games started (17), shots (21), assists (2) and points (4).
*The Junior was third on the Greyhounds in shots on goal (8) and assists (2), helping the team clinch a berth in the Patriot League Championship, advancing to the semifinal round.
*The Ireland native was a two-time Patriot League Midfielder of the Week last season, tied for the most among League players.
*His first career goal was a game-tying strike against NJIT to earn League midfielder of the week on Sept. 11. He earned the honor again on Sept. 25 after assisting the game-winning goal against Colgate.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jordy Luchies, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D, Emmen, Netherlands/University of Groningen
2023 Stats: 16 GP, 4 goals, 3 assists, 11 points
*Luchies started in 14 games for the Greyhounds last season, earning First Team All-Patriot League honors for the second time in his career (2021).
*The Netherlands native was part of a squad that allowed a League-low 15 goals, while playing a crucial role in five shutouts on the season.
*After being named the 2023 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, he led the team in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11).
*Played all 90 minutes in six games during the season, en route to garnering Third Team All-Atlantic Region.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Dylan Van der Walt, Loyola Maryland, GK, Jr., San Antonio, Texas/Cornerstone Christian
2023 Stats: 18 GP, .786 save pct., 0.83 goals allowed per game, 7 shutouts
*After debuting for the Greyhounds in 2023, Van der Walt earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors.
*His .833 goals-against average (GAA) was tied for second while his .786 save percentage led Patriot League goalkeepers.
*Van der Walt finished with seven shutouts, to tie for third in the League and 19th in NCAA DI last season.
*In nine League games, the San Antonio, Texas native finished with five shutouts with 2.67 saves per game.
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Men’s Soccer by the Numbers (2023 Stats)
Overall, 12 of the 13 Preseason All-Patriot League Men’s Soccer honorees were selected to one of the three 2023 All-League Teams. American’s Sam Hershey (Sr., F) and Zemi Rodriguez (Sr., M), Loyola Maryland’s Sean McEvoy (Jr., M) and Jordy Luchies (Sr., D), were all first-team selections.
Holy Cross’ Evan Jones (Sr., F) and Ethan Gill (Jr., M), American’s Ethan Boyle (Gr., F), Boston University’s Quin DeLaMater (Jr., D) and Loyola Maryland’s Dylan Van der Walt (Jr., GK) earned spots on the second team, while the Eagles’ Cooper Nunn (Gr., D), Terriers’ Andrew Rent, (Sr., F) and Raiders’ Alejandro Coury (Sr., M) made the third team.
The 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Men’s Soccer squad is heavy on experience. Eight members of the preseason team are entering their senior or graduate seasons. Four of the five remaining honorees are juniors, with one sophomore.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Loyola Maryland, 150 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Boston University, 142 (8)
3. American, 135
4. Colgate, 103
5. Lafayette, 98
6. Navy, 81
7. Army West Point, 60
8. Holy Cross, 51
T9. Bucknell, 40
T9. Lehigh, 40
2024 Patriot League Preseason Men’s Soccer Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Ethan Boyle, American, Gr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Sean McEvoy, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Jordy Luchies, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Dylan Van der Walt, Loyola Maryland, Jr., GK
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Men’s Soccer Team*
Ethan Boyle, American, Gr., F
Sam Hershey, American, Sr., F
Andrew Rent, Boston University, Sr., F
Evan Jones, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Zemi Rodriguez, American, Sr., M
Alejandro Coury, Colgate, Sr., M
Ethan Gill, Holy Cross, Jr., M
Sean McEvoy, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Cooper Nunn, American, Gr., D
Quin DeLaMater, Boston University, Jr., D
Jordy Luchies, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Chris Ogor, Loyola Maryland, So., D
Dylan Van der Walt, Loyola Maryland, Jr., GK
*Additional players selected due to ties in the voting
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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.