Four Bison Earn Spots on 2023 MLAX All-Patriot League Team
5/1/2023 3:00:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Four Bison earned spots on the 2023 Men's Lacrosse All-Patriot League Team, the league office announced Monday afternoon. Dutch Furlong, Will Hopkins, Hank Bethel and Andrew Stanzel were each recognized for the first time in their careers.
All four Bison were named to the All-Patriot League Second Team. It's the first time since 2018 that Bucknell has had as many honorees.
Furlong finished the season as the Patriot League's leader in assists per game and ranks third in the nation with 2.92. He totaled 56 points overall on 35 assists and 21 goals. His 35 assists rank eighth in the Bucknell record book for a single season, and he's now 10th all-time in school history with 60 career helpers.
The junior attackman posted four or more assists on five occasions, topping out at a career-high eight against Boston U. He also registered 10 points twice, including in Bucknell's season-opening win over Mercer that earned him Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors. Furlong was added to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List in March.
Hopkins was one of three freshmen to appear on an All-Patriot League Team this season after earning Rookie of the Week honors three times. He finished third on the Bison roster with 29 points on 17 goals and 12 assists. Three times Hopkins registered hat tricks, and he posted two multi-assist games, including three in the Mercer victory. Hopkins started all 13 games during his rookie campaign as a crucial piece on Bucknell's offensive midfield.
Bethel, a senior defenseman, also started all 13 contests and finished second on the team and fifth in the Patriot League with 1.69 caused turnovers per game. He added 22 ground balls as well. Bethel supplied at least three caused turnovers four times, including a season-high four in the Mercer victory. The Severna Park, Md. native also racked up six caused turnovers during a two-game stretch in early April.
Stranzel, another senior defenseman, finished third in the Patriot League and ninth among NCAA Division I players with 2.08 caused turnovers per game. He totaled 27 caused turnovers in his 13 starts and was second on the team in ground balls with 35. Stanzel also contributed an assist in Bucknell's game against Robert Morris. He scooped three or more ground balls on seven occasions, including a career-high five twice.
Below is a complete list of the 2023 All-Patriot League Teams and major award winners:
2023 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Scott Cole, Lehigh, Jr., A
Defensive Player of the Year – AJ Pilate, Army West Point, So., D
Faceoff Specialist of the Year – Mike Sisselberger, Lehigh, 5th, FO
Goalkeeper of the Year – Knox Dent, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Fr., M
The William Lawson Coach of the Year – Joe Alberici, Army West Point
2023 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse All-Patriot League Teams
Student-athletes are listed by position, then alphabetically by school
First Team
Reese Burek, Army West Point, Jr., A
Vince D'Alto, Boston University, Sr., A
Louis Perfetto, Boston University, Sr., A
Scott Cole, Lehigh, Jr., A
Jacob Morin, Army West Point, Jr., M
Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Fr., M
Adam Poitras, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Max Hewitt, Navy, Jr., M
AJ Pilate, Army West Point, So., D
Patrick Morrison, Boston University, Sr., D
Richard Checo, Lehigh, Fr., D
Jackson Bonitz, Navy, Jr., D
Mike Sisselberger, Lehigh, 5th, FO
Roy Meyer, Boston University, Sr., LSM
Payton Rezanka, Loyola Maryland, Gr., SSDM
Knox Dent, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Second Team*
Timmy Ley, Boston University, Sr., A
Dutch Furlong, Bucknell, Jr., A
Peter Lehman, Lafayette, So., A
Christian Mule, Lehigh, Sr., A
Tommy Bourque, Boston University, Jr., M
Thomas Niedringhaus, Boston University, Sr., M
Will Hopkins, Bucknell, Fr., M
John Sidorski, Lehigh, Sr., M
Hank Bethel, Bucknell, Sr., D
Andrew Stanzel, Bucknell, Sr., D
Donny Gayhardt, Colgate, Sr., D
Sean Rushton, Lafayette, Sr., D
Matt Hughes, Loyola Maryland, Gr., D
Will Coletti, Army West Point, So., FO
Christian Fournier, Army West Point, So., LSM
Jackson Peters, Navy, Jr., SSDM
Pat Ryan, Navy, Sr., GK
* Due to a tie, there are four defenders on the second team.
