Seven members of the Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team received United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-America honors, according to a May 21 announcement. The awards were revealed Thursday afternoon ahead of Championship Weekend.
The recognition highlights the achievements of student-athletes who have excelled in their positions throughout the season. Joey Spallina was named First Team All-American and also received the Lt. Col. J.I. Turnbull Outstanding Attackman award as national attackman of the year. “This is the 15th time a Syracuse player has won the Turnbull Award since it was first issued in 1946,” according to the release. Spallina is also noted as being “the first Orange winner since Kevin Rice in 2015.”
Other honorees include Luke Rhoa, named Second Team All-America as a midfielder; Riley Figueiras and Billy Dwan III, both selected for Third Team All-America on defense; and Michael Leo (attack), John Mullen (faceoff), and Jimmy McCool (goalie), all receiving Honorable Mention.
Spallina stands out nationally with an average of 2.78 assists per game, ranking third in Division I and leading the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He is described as “the program’s all-time points leader (331)” and one of only three Division I players with at least 80 points this season.
Luke Rhoa earned his second consecutive All-America honor, tallying eight man-up goals this year—tied for third-most nationally among midfielders entering Championship Weekend. Riley Figueiras led Syracuse with 25 caused turnovers, while Billy Dwan III extended his streak to seven games with at least one caused turnover heading into championship play.
Michael Leo contributed consistently on offense, recording at least one point in each of his last eleven games before Championship Weekend. John Mullen achieved a faceoff win rate above fifty-three percent overall—and nearly sixty percent during NCAA Tournament play—while Jimmy McCool led ACC goalies with an average of 12.50 saves per game this season.
Syracuse enters its second-straight trip to Championship Weekend as sixth seed and will face Notre Dame on Saturday at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville during NCAA Semifinals competition.
