Seven Cavaliers Named All-ACC Academic Selections
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Seven Virginia men’s lacrosse players were named to the 2022 All-ACC Academic Team, the conference office announced Tuesday (June 14). Among those honored were Jeff Conner, Payton Cormier, Cole Kastner, Petey LaSalla, Matt Moore, Cade Saustad and Connor Shellenberger.
The Cavaliers’ seven selections marked the fourth consecutive instance in which the program boasted at least seven honorees.
Additionally, Moore became Virginia’s second four-time recipient, joining Owen Van Arsdale (2012-15).
Conner (Wallingford, Pa.) was named an All-ACC selection after appearing in 13 games, including 11 starts, in which he scored 14 goals and dished out 18 assists. His 18 assists were good for third on the team this season, while his 32 points were fifth. Conner orchestrated his signature performance in UVA’s ACC title-clinching win at Syracuse, where he posted a career-high seven points on four goals and three assists. His four goals at the Carrier Dome are also a career best.
Cormier (Oakville, Ontario) led the Cavaliers in scoring (50 goals) this season and was second on the team with 60 points. Cormier is Virginia’s first 50-goal scorer in a single season since former teammate Ian Laviano did so in 2019. His 3.12 goals-per-game average was good for third in the ACC. Cormier recorded a team-best 14 multi-goal games this season, including nine hat tricks. With six goals against the Blue Jays, Cormier became the first player in UVA history since 2013 to score at least six games in multiple games for a career. He also tallied a game-high five goals in the Cavaliers’ win at Brown.
Kastner (Palo Alto, Calif.) became UVA’s first defensive player to garner ACC player-of-the-year honors since 2002. Kastner led the ACC and finished sixth in the nation in caused turnovers (2.00/game). He appeared in all 16 possible games for the Cavaliers, including 15 starts, after starting in just four contests last season. Like Shellenberger, Kastner was named a Second Team All-American according to Inside Lacrosse.
LaSalla (Miller Place, N.Y.) became UVA’s all-time leader in career faceoff wins (781) and ground balls (390) midway through the 2022 season. An All-ACC selection, LaSalla led the conference and finished eighth in the nation in faceoff percentage this season after going 215-360 (.597) at the faceoff-X. His 215 faceoffs wins are also good for fourth all-time on UVA’s single-season list. LaSalla was 19-for-30 (.633) in the Cavaliers’ playoff game against the Bears and collected 11 ground balls in the win. He also posted a career-best .900 (9-10) faceoff win percentage in Virginia’s 19-8 win over Johns Hopkins.
Moore (Garnet Valley, Pa.) concluded his career as Virginia’s all-time leader in career points with 277. For his career, Moore registered 143 goals and 134 assists in 73 games played. He wrapped up his career at UVA on a 63-game point streak that began March 31, 2018. In 13 appearances this season, Moore posted 26 goals and 26 assists, including a pair of goals and six assists in the Cavaliers’ regular-season finale, a 20-10 win over Lafayette on Senior Night – the same night he broke UVA’s all-time points record. With six points in UVA’s two NCAA Tournament games this season, Moore concluded his career with 43 career points in 11 NCAA Tournament games, good for No. 3 all-time in program history.
Saustad (Dallas, Texas), a team captain, started in 15 games for the Cavaliers at close defense this season. He collected 27 ground balls in 2022, good for second on the team. Saustad was named a USILA Team-of-the-Week selection on April 12 after anchoring a UVA defense that held UNC to just four goals, which was the Tar Heels’ lowest goal total in a single game since 2006.
Shellenberger (Charlottesville, Va.) nabbed USILA First Team All-American honors for the second straight year after leading the Cavaliers in points (76) and assists (44) this season. He also finished second on the team in goals (32). Shellenberger, a Second Team All-American selection by Inside Lacrosse, recorded multiple points in 15 out of 16 possible games this season. His highlight performance of the year was in Virginia’s NCAA Tournament First Round matchup at No. 8 seed Brown, where he tied his career high of eight points with four goals and four assists. Shellenberger was also named an All-ACC selection.
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career for undergraduate students. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.
2022 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Connor Maher, Sr., M, North Carolina
2022 All-ACC Academic Men’s Lacrosse Team
Mike Adler**, Duke, G, Gr., Master of Management Studies
Kenny Brower, Duke, D, Jr., History
Tyler Carpenter**, Duke, LSM, Jr., Sociology
Andrew McAdorey, Duke, M, Fr., Undeclared
Nakeie Montgomery, Duke, M, Gr., Master of Management Studies
Jake Naso**, Duke, M/FO, So., Political Science
Brennan O’Neill**, Duke, A, So., Political Science
Joe Robertson****, Duke, A, Gr., Liberal Studies
Dyson Williams, Duke, A, Jr., Political Science
Collin Krieg**, North Carolina, GK, So., Exercise and Sport Science
Connor Maher***, North Carolina, M, Sr., Business Administration
Zac Tucci***, North Carolina, FO/M, Sr., Business Administration
Matt Wright**, North Carolina, D, Jr., Exercise and Sport Science
Arden Cohen***, Notre Dame, D, Gr., MS Business Analytics
Eric Dobson, Notre Dame, M, So., Finance
Liam Entenmann**, Notre Dame, G, Jr., Political Science
Ryan Hallenbeck**, Notre Dame, M, Gr., Strategy
Wheaton Jackoboice, Notre Dame, M, Gr., MS Business Analytics
Pat Kavanagh**, Notre Dame, A, Jr., Finance
Jason Reynolds, Notre Dame, D, Gr., MS Finance
Brendan Curry***, Syracuse, M, Gr., Non Matric
Brett Kennedy****, Syracuse, D, Gr., Information Management
Grant Murphy, Syracuse, D, Gr., Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
Jeff Conner, Virginia, M, Sr., English
Payton Cormier**, Virginia, A, Sr., American Studies
Cole Kastner**, Virginia, D, So., Arts & Sciences Undeclared
Petey LaSalla***, Virginia, FO/M, Sr., American Studies
Matt Moore****, Virginia, A, Gr., Public Policy
Cade Saustad***, Virginia, D, Sr., Economics
Connor Shellenberger**, Virginia, A, Jr., Media Studies
* denotes number of All-ACC Academic Team honors