Army West Point Athletics
Men’s Lacrosse Selected as Patriot League Preseason Favorites, Preseason Major Awards Announced
January 21, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point men's lacrosse earned recognition as the preseason favorite to win the Patriot League for the second consecutive season as announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon. Two Black Knights earned recognition in the league's preseason major awards with five team members claiming spots on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Seniors Evan Plunkett and Sean Byrne represented Army in the major preseason awards. Hill Plunkett, John Sullivan, and Keagan Treacy joined the pair on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Senior midfielder Evan Plunkett earned the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American honors for the second consecutive season. Plunkett earned a spot on the USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American Second Team following a 2025 season in which he tied for fourth on the team in total goals with 14, recorded five games with at least three points including three hat tricks, and tied for second on the team in total assists with 16.
For his efforts, Plunkett earned recognition as a USILA Second Team All-American, Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American, and USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention honors and was a top-25 finalist for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award for his efforts last season.
Senior goalkeeper Sean Byrne earned the Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year title along with his USA Lacrosse Second Team Preseason All-American honors. Byrne led the nation in save percentage and saves per game throughout the 2025 regular season and finished second in the nation with a .607 save percentage. He totaled 147 saves across the season with a season-high 18 saves against Boston University in March.
Byrne earned the 2025 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year title, First Team All-Patriot League honors, USILA Second Team All-American honors, Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American honors, USA Lacrosse Third Team All-American honors, and selection as a top-25 finalist for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award.
An emerging playmaker and 2025 First Team All-Patriot League selection in his freshman campaign, Hill Plunkett finished 2025 tied for second on the team in total assists (16), fifth on the team in total goals (12), and fifth on the team in total points (28) to earn his first career Preseason All-Patriot League Team selection.
A returning member of one of the nation's top scoring defense last season, John Sullivan earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors after he tallied 24 ground balls and ten turnovers last season – leading all returning Black Knights in caused turnovers. With Sullivan's input, Army outscored its opponents 199-105 with a NCAA-leading 7.05 goals against average as a team for the 2025 season.
Senior short-stick defensive midfielder Keagan Treacy rounded out Army's 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team appearances. At a towering height of six-foot-five, Treacy's reach is a threat in the midfield as he collected five points from a goal and four assists with an additional 11 ground balls and three caused turnovers to his name. With Treacy's input, Army dominated the possession game with 489 ground balls to its opponents' 387 and 140 caused turnovers to opponents' 104 total caused turnovers against Army.
The Black Knights finished the 2025 season with a 12-2 overall record and a 7-1 record against league foes to earn its 16th Patriot League Regular Season Champions title. Army earned seven of the nine possible first place votes in the preseason poll and ranked in the top 15 in two national preseason polls as the team ranked 14th in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Poll and 12th in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media Poll.
Army begins its 2026 campaign at home against UMass on Saturday, January 31 with the opening faceoff set for 12 p.m. ET.
2026 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr., M
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr., D
Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., FO
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr., GK
2026 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: Hill Plunkett, Army West Point, So.
Attack: Timothy Shannehan, Boston University, So.
Attack: Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Sr.
Attack: Matt Minicus, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Midfielder: Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr.
Midfielder: Andrew Pape, Boston University, So.
Midfielder: Peter Grandolfo, Bucknell, Jr.
Midfielder: Jack Ponzio, Navy, So.
Defense: John Sullivan, Army West Point, Sr.
Defense: Connor Kehm, Boston University, Sr.
Defense: Luke McAuliffe, Lehigh, Sr.
Defense: AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr.
Goalkeeper: Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr.
Faceoff Specialist: Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Richard Checo, Lehigh, Sr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Keagan Treacy, Army West Point, Sr.
*Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
2026 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point – 63 (7 first-place votes)
2. Boston University – 56 (2)
3. Navy – 40
4. Loyola Maryland – 39
5. Lafayette – 37
6. Lehigh – 33
7. Colgate – 32
8. Bucknell –15
9. Holy Cross – 9
Seniors Evan Plunkett and Sean Byrne represented Army in the major preseason awards. Hill Plunkett, John Sullivan, and Keagan Treacy joined the pair on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Senior midfielder Evan Plunkett earned the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American honors for the second consecutive season. Plunkett earned a spot on the USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American Second Team following a 2025 season in which he tied for fourth on the team in total goals with 14, recorded five games with at least three points including three hat tricks, and tied for second on the team in total assists with 16.
For his efforts, Plunkett earned recognition as a USILA Second Team All-American, Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American, and USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention honors and was a top-25 finalist for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award for his efforts last season.
Senior goalkeeper Sean Byrne earned the Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year title along with his USA Lacrosse Second Team Preseason All-American honors. Byrne led the nation in save percentage and saves per game throughout the 2025 regular season and finished second in the nation with a .607 save percentage. He totaled 147 saves across the season with a season-high 18 saves against Boston University in March.
Byrne earned the 2025 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year title, First Team All-Patriot League honors, USILA Second Team All-American honors, Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American honors, USA Lacrosse Third Team All-American honors, and selection as a top-25 finalist for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award.
An emerging playmaker and 2025 First Team All-Patriot League selection in his freshman campaign, Hill Plunkett finished 2025 tied for second on the team in total assists (16), fifth on the team in total goals (12), and fifth on the team in total points (28) to earn his first career Preseason All-Patriot League Team selection.
A returning member of one of the nation's top scoring defense last season, John Sullivan earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors after he tallied 24 ground balls and ten turnovers last season – leading all returning Black Knights in caused turnovers. With Sullivan's input, Army outscored its opponents 199-105 with a NCAA-leading 7.05 goals against average as a team for the 2025 season.
Senior short-stick defensive midfielder Keagan Treacy rounded out Army's 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team appearances. At a towering height of six-foot-five, Treacy's reach is a threat in the midfield as he collected five points from a goal and four assists with an additional 11 ground balls and three caused turnovers to his name. With Treacy's input, Army dominated the possession game with 489 ground balls to its opponents' 387 and 140 caused turnovers to opponents' 104 total caused turnovers against Army.
The Black Knights finished the 2025 season with a 12-2 overall record and a 7-1 record against league foes to earn its 16th Patriot League Regular Season Champions title. Army earned seven of the nine possible first place votes in the preseason poll and ranked in the top 15 in two national preseason polls as the team ranked 14th in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Poll and 12th in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media Poll.
Army begins its 2026 campaign at home against UMass on Saturday, January 31 with the opening faceoff set for 12 p.m. ET.
2026 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr., M
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr., D
Preseason Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr., FO
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr., GK
2026 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: Hill Plunkett, Army West Point, So.
Attack: Timothy Shannehan, Boston University, So.
Attack: Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Sr.
Attack: Matt Minicus, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Midfielder: Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Sr.
Midfielder: Andrew Pape, Boston University, So.
Midfielder: Peter Grandolfo, Bucknell, Jr.
Midfielder: Jack Ponzio, Navy, So.
Defense: John Sullivan, Army West Point, Sr.
Defense: Connor Kehm, Boston University, Sr.
Defense: Luke McAuliffe, Lehigh, Sr.
Defense: AJ Marsh, Navy, Jr.
Goalkeeper: Sean Byrne, Army West Point, Sr.
Faceoff Specialist: Zach Hayashi, Navy, Jr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Richard Checo, Lehigh, Sr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Keagan Treacy, Army West Point, Sr.
*Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
2026 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point – 63 (7 first-place votes)
2. Boston University – 56 (2)
3. Navy – 40
4. Loyola Maryland – 39
5. Lafayette – 37
6. Lehigh – 33
7. Colgate – 32
8. Bucknell –15
9. Holy Cross – 9
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