Army West Point Athletics
Nichtern, Hudgins, Schupler Claim Patriot League Preseason Major Awards
January 31, 2022 | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point men's lacrosse had three Cadets receive Patriot League preseason major honors announced on Monday. Brendan Nichtern was named Preseason Offensive Player of the year for the second straight season, Marcus Hudgins was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Wyatt Schupler garnered Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Midfielder Bobby Abshire joined Nichtern, Hudgins, and Schupler on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
The preseason offensive player of the year award is the latest accolade for Nichtern who has been named to the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Top 10 Tewaaraton Watch (#8) and selected to the 2022 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American Second Team and the 2022 USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American Third Team. Nichtern, a Massapequa, N.Y. native, was named the 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year to go along with All-Patriot League First Team honors. He earned All-American recognition from Inside Lacrosse (second team), USA Lacrosse (second team), and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) (third team). He was also a 2021 Tewaaraton Award nominee. He led the 2021 Black Knights in goals (26), assists (31), and points (57). He was first in the Patriot League and finished sixth in the nation in assists per game (2.82) and points per game (5.18). Nichtern enters his senior season on the verge of setting a couple of program career records. He is fourth on the career assists list with 108 and is 34 assists away from tying Tim Pearson '02 for the top spot. On the all-time scoring list, Nichtern sits in eighth place with 183 points, 55 away from Pearson.
Hudgins was named as a 2022 first-team All-American by both USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Hudgins, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., was named the 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team. He played a significant role as part of the defense that led the Patriot League and ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense (9.27 goals per game). Hudgins, who was assigned to defend the opponent's top offensive threat, set career-highs in ground balls with 36 and in-caused turnovers with 23 while starting in every game. A two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, he finished 10th in the country in caused turnovers per game (2.09) and had a career-high five caused turnovers against Boston University on March 6. He received 2021 All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine (second team), United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) (second team), and Inside Lacrosse (third team).
Schupler earned 2021 All-Patriot League Second Team honors after posting a 9.30 goals-against average which was second in the league and eighth in the nation, and a .569 save percentage which ranked third in the league and 10th in the NCAA. A four-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week, Schupler made double-digit saves in 10 games while starting in all 11 games last season. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. native also earned a spot on the 2021 Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American Team.
Abshire was named to the 2021 All-Patriot League First Team. He posted career-highs in goals with 16 and in points with 21, which were both fourth-most on the team; he was also tied for third on the team with five assists. Abshire, a native of Commack, N.Y., had six points including a career-high four goals in the win over No. 4 Syracuse, and recorded a hat trick against Holy Cross.
The Black Knights were tabbed third in the preseason poll after receiving 105 points and had two first-place votes. Last season, the Black Knights advanced to the Patriot League Semifinals by winning the North Division Title. The Black Knights were ranked as high as seventh in the nation in the polls during the 2021 season and finished the year as the fifth-ranked defense in the country, allowing 9.27 goals per game.
Army starts the season ranked No. 10 in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll and No. 13 in the Nike/USA Lacrosse and USILA Preseason Polls. Army's 14-game 2022 schedule features four opponents who played in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and five teams who are ranked in the 2022 Inside Lacrosse and Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason Polls.
The Black Knights open the season at Michie Stadium on February 12 against UMass at 12 p.m.
Season and individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets are $25 and the youth/senior rate is $20. Fans can take advantage of the early bird season ticket offer of $20 by purchasing before Tuesday, February 1. To purchase tickets, call 1-877-TIX-ARMY or visit www.goarmywestpoint.com/tickets.
For complete coverage of Army West Point men's lacrosse follow the Black Knights on Twitter, Instagram, and at www.goarmywestpoint.com.
The preseason offensive player of the year award is the latest accolade for Nichtern who has been named to the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Top 10 Tewaaraton Watch (#8) and selected to the 2022 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American Second Team and the 2022 USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American Third Team. Nichtern, a Massapequa, N.Y. native, was named the 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year to go along with All-Patriot League First Team honors. He earned All-American recognition from Inside Lacrosse (second team), USA Lacrosse (second team), and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) (third team). He was also a 2021 Tewaaraton Award nominee. He led the 2021 Black Knights in goals (26), assists (31), and points (57). He was first in the Patriot League and finished sixth in the nation in assists per game (2.82) and points per game (5.18). Nichtern enters his senior season on the verge of setting a couple of program career records. He is fourth on the career assists list with 108 and is 34 assists away from tying Tim Pearson '02 for the top spot. On the all-time scoring list, Nichtern sits in eighth place with 183 points, 55 away from Pearson.
Hudgins was named as a 2022 first-team All-American by both USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Hudgins, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., was named the 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team. He played a significant role as part of the defense that led the Patriot League and ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense (9.27 goals per game). Hudgins, who was assigned to defend the opponent's top offensive threat, set career-highs in ground balls with 36 and in-caused turnovers with 23 while starting in every game. A two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, he finished 10th in the country in caused turnovers per game (2.09) and had a career-high five caused turnovers against Boston University on March 6. He received 2021 All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine (second team), United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) (second team), and Inside Lacrosse (third team).
Schupler earned 2021 All-Patriot League Second Team honors after posting a 9.30 goals-against average which was second in the league and eighth in the nation, and a .569 save percentage which ranked third in the league and 10th in the NCAA. A four-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week, Schupler made double-digit saves in 10 games while starting in all 11 games last season. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. native also earned a spot on the 2021 Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American Team.
Abshire was named to the 2021 All-Patriot League First Team. He posted career-highs in goals with 16 and in points with 21, which were both fourth-most on the team; he was also tied for third on the team with five assists. Abshire, a native of Commack, N.Y., had six points including a career-high four goals in the win over No. 4 Syracuse, and recorded a hat trick against Holy Cross.
The Black Knights were tabbed third in the preseason poll after receiving 105 points and had two first-place votes. Last season, the Black Knights advanced to the Patriot League Semifinals by winning the North Division Title. The Black Knights were ranked as high as seventh in the nation in the polls during the 2021 season and finished the year as the fifth-ranked defense in the country, allowing 9.27 goals per game.
Army starts the season ranked No. 10 in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll and No. 13 in the Nike/USA Lacrosse and USILA Preseason Polls. Army's 14-game 2022 schedule features four opponents who played in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and five teams who are ranked in the 2022 Inside Lacrosse and Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason Polls.
The Black Knights open the season at Michie Stadium on February 12 against UMass at 12 p.m.
Season and individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets are $25 and the youth/senior rate is $20. Fans can take advantage of the early bird season ticket offer of $20 by purchasing before Tuesday, February 1. To purchase tickets, call 1-877-TIX-ARMY or visit www.goarmywestpoint.com/tickets.
For complete coverage of Army West Point men's lacrosse follow the Black Knights on Twitter, Instagram, and at www.goarmywestpoint.com.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Brendan Nichtern, Army West Point, Sr.
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Marcus Hudgins, Army West Point, Sr.
Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year: Mike Sisselberger, Lehigh, Sr.
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: Wyatt Schupler, Army West Point, Sr.
| Preseason All-Patriot League Team |
| Attack: Brendan Nichtern, Army West Point, Sr. |
| Attack: Tommy Schelling, Lehigh, Sr. |
| Attack: Kevin Lindley, Loyola Maryland, Gr |
| Attack: Aidan Olmstead, Loyola Maryland, Gr. |
| Midfielder: Bobby Abshire, Army West Point, Sr. |
| Midfielder: Harry Wellford, Bucknell, Sr. |
| Midfielder: Evan James, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M |
| Midfielder: Patrick Skalniak, Navy, Jr., M |
| Defense: Marcus Hudgins, Army West Point, Sr. |
| Defense: Teddy Leggett, Lehigh, Gr. |
| Defense: Cam Wyers, Loyola Maryland, Sr. |
| Defense: Jackson Bonitz, Navy, So. |
| Goalie: Wyatt Schupler, Army West Point, Sr. |
| FaceOff Specialist: Mike Sisselberger, Navy, Sr. |
| Long-Stick Midfielder: Ryan McNulty, Loyola Maryland, Gr. |
| Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Payton Rezanka, Loyola Maryland, Sr. |
| Preseason Poll |
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Players Mentioned
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