Army West Point Athletics
Evan Plunkett, Sean Byrne Earn USILA Preseason All-American Honors
January 30, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Army West Point men's lacrosse firsties Evan Plunkett and Sean Byrne received recognition Friday afternoon from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) as Preseason All-Americans as announced by the USILA. Plunkett earned First Team honors while Byrne was recognized to the Second Team.
Plunkett earned recognition as a USILA Preseason First Team All-American after a strong 2025 campaign for which he earned 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.
The Roswell, Ga. native 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.
Byrne earned USILA Preseason Second Team All-American honors following a 2025 campaign in goal for the Black Knights for which he 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.
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.
The Black Knights open their season on Saturday, January 31 against UMass at 11 a.m. ET in the Foley Athletic Center. The game is closed to the public but fans can visit the Army men's lacrosse schedule page for game coverage information to follow along with the action.
2026 USILA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
FIRST TEAM
ATT Joey Spallina Syracuse University
ATT Ryan Goldstein Cornell University
ATT Owen Duffy University of North Carolina
MID Evan Plunkett U.S. Military Academy
MID Willem Firth Cornell University
MID Benn Johnston Duke University
SSDM Aidan Maguire Duke University
SSDM Eric Kolar University of Maryland
LSM Will Donovan University of Notre Dame
FO Brady Wambach University of North Carolina
D Shawn Lyght University of Notre Dame
D Bobby Van Buren Ohio State University
D Will Schaller University of Maryland
G Caleb Fyock Ohio State University
SECOND TEAM
ATT Mikey Weisshaar Towson University
ATT Eric Spanos University of Maryland
ATT Dominic Pietramala University of North Carolina
MID Michael Leo Syracuse University
MID Chad Palumbo Princeton University
MID Hunter Aquino Penn State University
SSDM Jack Pilling University of Richmond
SSDM Cooper Mueller Princeton University
LSM Jake Melchionni Villanova University
FO John Mullen Syracuse University
D Ty Banks Georgetown University
D Charlie Johnson Duke University
D Hunter Smith University of Richmond
G Sean Byrne U.S. Military Academy
THIRD TEAM
ATT Silas Richmond University at Albany
ATT Liam Connor Georgetown University
ATT Aidan O'Neil University of Richmond
ATT Finn Thomson Syracuse University
MID Tucker Wade Princeton University
MID Hunter Drouin Colgate University
MID Logan Ip Harvard University
SSDM Blake Eiland Ohio State University
SSDM Brendan Leary Penn State University
LSM AJ Larkin University of Maryland
FO Henry Dodge University of Maryland
D Cullen Brown Ohio State University
D Billy Dwan III Syracuse University
D Julian Radossich Fairfield University
D Peter Thomann University of North Carolina
G Ryan Croddick Princeton University
Plunkett earned recognition as a USILA Preseason First Team All-American after a strong 2025 campaign for which he earned 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.
The Roswell, Ga. native 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.
Byrne earned USILA Preseason Second Team All-American honors following a 2025 campaign in goal for the Black Knights for which he 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.
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.
The Black Knights open their season on Saturday, January 31 against UMass at 11 a.m. ET in the Foley Athletic Center. The game is closed to the public but fans can visit the Army men's lacrosse schedule page for game coverage information to follow along with the action.
2026 USILA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
FIRST TEAM
ATT Joey Spallina Syracuse University
ATT Ryan Goldstein Cornell University
ATT Owen Duffy University of North Carolina
MID Evan Plunkett U.S. Military Academy
MID Willem Firth Cornell University
MID Benn Johnston Duke University
SSDM Aidan Maguire Duke University
SSDM Eric Kolar University of Maryland
LSM Will Donovan University of Notre Dame
FO Brady Wambach University of North Carolina
D Shawn Lyght University of Notre Dame
D Bobby Van Buren Ohio State University
D Will Schaller University of Maryland
G Caleb Fyock Ohio State University
SECOND TEAM
ATT Mikey Weisshaar Towson University
ATT Eric Spanos University of Maryland
ATT Dominic Pietramala University of North Carolina
MID Michael Leo Syracuse University
MID Chad Palumbo Princeton University
MID Hunter Aquino Penn State University
SSDM Jack Pilling University of Richmond
SSDM Cooper Mueller Princeton University
LSM Jake Melchionni Villanova University
FO John Mullen Syracuse University
D Ty Banks Georgetown University
D Charlie Johnson Duke University
D Hunter Smith University of Richmond
G Sean Byrne U.S. Military Academy
THIRD TEAM
ATT Silas Richmond University at Albany
ATT Liam Connor Georgetown University
ATT Aidan O'Neil University of Richmond
ATT Finn Thomson Syracuse University
MID Tucker Wade Princeton University
MID Hunter Drouin Colgate University
MID Logan Ip Harvard University
SSDM Blake Eiland Ohio State University
SSDM Brendan Leary Penn State University
LSM AJ Larkin University of Maryland
FO Henry Dodge University of Maryland
D Cullen Brown Ohio State University
D Billy Dwan III Syracuse University
D Julian Radossich Fairfield University
D Peter Thomann University of North Carolina
G Ryan Croddick Princeton University
Players Mentioned
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