ATLANTA – Utah is favored to capture the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Lacrosse title after being selected to the top spot in the preseason coaches poll, announced by the league office Wednesday.
Utah is coming off a 12-4 campaign that saw the Utes go undefeated in conference play (9-0) and capture the ASUN Championship. Jacksonville, who enters its second season after returning to the league, was selected second in the coaches poll. Air Force, Bellarmine and Robert Morris rounded the top half of the preseason rankings.
The Knights' Kyle Playsted was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. The senior attacker was a unanimous First Team All-ASUN selection last season as well as being named Player of the Year. Utah earned two preseason superlative honors with Jared Andreala being selected as Preseason Midfielder of the Year and Joey Boylston earning the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recognition. Andreala was an All-ASUN Second Team selection in 2023. The Raleigh, N.C., native scored at least one goal in the final five games of the season, including three in the NCAA Championship matchup with Notre Dame. Boylston was named to the All-ASUN First Team last season and he ranks second all-time at Utah in career-caused turnovers (38). The senior had two or more turnovers in eight games, including two against Air Force to help the Utes win the 2023 ASUN Championship.
2024 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Utah (9), 99
2. Jacksonville, 82
3. Air Force (1), 80
4. Bellarmine, 72
5. Robert Morris, 63
6. Mercer, 51
7. Cleveland State, 41
8. Detroit Mercy, 28
9. Queens, 22
10. Lindenwood, 12
2024 Preseason All-ASUN Team
GK - JC Higginbotham, Bellarmine
D - Chris Bardak, Air Force
D - Brian Kallberg, Lindenwood
D - Joey Boylston, Utah
M - Aidan Tolen, Air Force
M - Luke Majick, Detroit Mercy
M - Tucker Garrity, Jacksonville
M - Jared Andreala, Utah
A - Benny O'Rourk, Bellarmine
A - Kyle Playsted, Bellarmine
A - Tyler Bradbury, Utah
*a tie in voting resulted in an 11-person Preseason All-ASUN Team