BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy senior faceoff specialist Zach Hayashi was named the Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year when the League office announced the sport’s academic honors on Thursday. He was among the 12 student-athletes selected to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
Hayashi (cyber operations, 3.90) becomes the first Midshipman since 2005 and third overall to garner Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, joining Clipper Lennon (2004-05).
Hayashi was the lone Navy student-athlete on the Men’s Lacrosse Academic All-Patriot League Team as Boston University, Colgate and Loyola Maryland each had a League-high two selections.
Army West Point senior attack Gunnar Fellows (applied sciences and data science, 3.32 GPA), Boston University sophomore faceoff specialist Madden Murphy (hospitality administration, 3.36 GPA) and sophomore attack Timothy Shannehan (business administration and management, 3.21 GPA), Bucknell senior attack Owen Kovacs (finance, 3.72 GPA), Colgate senior attack Hunter Drouin (political science, 3.66 GPA) and sophomore attack Casey Quinson (undeclared, 3.76 GPA), Holy Cross senior goalkeeper JR Long (economics, 3.98), Lafayette junior midfielder/faceoff specialist Nick Faccone (neuroscience, 3.68 GPA), Lehigh junior goalkeeper Kasey Heath (environmental science, 3.57 GPA) and Loyola Maryland senior midfielder Luke Murphy (finance, 3.84) and senior goalkeeper Max Watkinson (digital media, 3.71) were all voted to the Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Academic All-Patriot League Team.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in their sport. Freshmen or students in their first year of academic study are not eligible for the honor.
These honors recognize student-athletes who excel in their sport and the classroom. The awards are voted on by Patriot League men’s lacrosse sports information directors, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
2026 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., FO, North Potomac, Md./McDonogh School
*Hayashi is a junior cyber operations major with a 3.90 cumulative grade-point average and is a four-time Superintendent’s and Commandant’s List selection at the United States Naval Academy.
*In 14 games this season, Hayashi recorded a .549 faceoff win percentage (107-195), 60 ground balls, two caused turnovers and two goals.
*The junior finished the regular-season ranked fifth in faceoff win percentage, seventh in faceoff wins (107), eighth in ground balls (4.29) a ground balls per game (4.29).
*The North Potomac, Md. native is ranked 92nd among 1,090 students in the Class of 2027, ranked sixth in his Military Order of Merit and 20th in Overall Order of Merit.
2026 Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., FO
2026 Men’s Lacrosse Academic All-Patriot League Team*
Gunnar Fellows, Army West Point, Sr., A
Madden Murphy, Boston University, So., FO
Timothy Shannehan, Boston University, So., A
Owen Kovacs, Bucknell, Sr., A
Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Sr., A
Casey Quinson, Colgate, So., A
JR Long, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Nick Faccone, Lafayette, Jr., M/FO
Kasey Heath, Lehigh, Jr., GK
Luke Murphy, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Max Watkinson, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., FO
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.