As part of its 2026 season preview coverage, USA Lacrosse on Wednesday announced its Division I Men’s Preseason Players of the Year.
One player from this group will be named the USA Lacrosse Division I Men’s Preseason Player of the Year on Thursday.
ATTACKMAN OF THE YEAR
Joey Spallina, Syracuse
The centerpiece of the Orange’s rebuild, Spallina posted a 35-goal, 55-assist season last year as Syracuse advanced to Memorial Day weekend for the first time since 2013. The senior has a chance to go out as Cuse’s career points leader (he needs 62 to pass Michael Powell), a Tewaaraton winner and a national champion. A clean sweep would cement his place among Syracuse’s many greats.
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Chad Palumbo, Princeton
Palumbo shot 35.3 percent out of the midfield over the last two seasons and delivered a 28-goal, 19-assist season last spring — including scoring six times in as many shots in a rollicking NCAA quarterfinal loss to Syracuse. The senior is one of several proven players on a potent offense that will give the Tigers a chance to win their first national title since 2001.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Shawn Lyght, Notre Dame
It’s a stellar year for tested defensemen, such as Georgetown’s Ty Banks, Maryland’s Will Schaller, Richmond's Hunter Smith and Ohio State’s Bobby Van Buren. Lyght is as good as any of them, an every-game starter on a national title team as a freshman and then the ACC’s co-defensive player of the year as a sophomore. Now a junior, Lyght is already one of the best defensemen to ever play for Notre Dame — high praise given who’s come through the program.
SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
Aidan Maguire, Duke
Maguire shared the ACC’s defensive player of the year honor with Lyght, and his ability to smother midfielders as a short stick makes him one of the most valuable players in the country. He caused 26 turnovers, collected 57 ground balls and posted six goals and four assists in 2025, and his ability to impact the game on faceoff wings, defense and in transition commands attention.
GOALIE OF THE YEAR
Caleb Fyock, Ohio State
Big Tasty has a big personality and a big frame (6-foot-2, 297 pounds), and thanks to his agility and quick hands, he was the best goalie in the country as a sophomore while leading the Buckeyes to a 14-3 record and a sweep of the Big Ten’s regular season and tournament titles. Fyock closed 2025 with 10 consecutive double-digit save efforts and finished the year with a .612 save percentage.
