UVA Sweeps 2022 VaSID Men’s Lacrosse University Division Awards
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia men’s lacrosse swept all four individual awards for the 2022 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State University Division, the organization announced Wednesday (June 29). Additionally, the Cavaliers claimed eight spots on the University Division All-State Team.
For the second consecutive year, Connor Shellenberger was named the state’s Player of the Year, while Cole Kastner earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. First-year goalie Matthew Nunes was tabbed the Rookie of the Year and head coach Lars Tiffany earned Coach of the Year accolades for the fourth straight year.
Shellenberger (Charlottesville, Va.) nabbed USILA First Team All-America honors for the second consecutive season after leading the Cavaliers in points (76) and assists (44) in 2022. 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.
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.
Nunes (The Woodlands, Texas) became the first UVA freshman goalie to win an NCAA Tournament game since 1999 after tying his career best of 16 saves in the Cavaliers’ 17-10 first round win at eighth-seeded Brown. In 15 appearances, he posted a UVA freshman-record 159 saves and registered an 11.55 goals-against average. Nunes was also named the ACC Freshman of the Year, marking just the second goalie in program history to garner the award. He was also named ACC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, which tied for the most by any player in the conference this season.
Tiffany guided the program to a share of its 19th ACC title after achieving an overall record of 12-4, including a 5-1 mark in ACC play. He also led the Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and has posted a winning record in all six seasons as UVA head coach. Tiffany was also tabbed the ACC Coach of the Year for the second time of his career.
VaSID names 44 all-state teams in 23 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.
2022 VaSID Men’s Lacrosse University Division Award Winners
Player of the Year: Connor Shellenberger, Virginia
Defensive Player of the Year: Cole Kastner, Virginia
Rookie of the Year: Matthew Nunes, Virginia
Coach of the Year: Lars Tiffany, Virginia
2022 VaSID Men’s Lacrosse University Division All-State Team
Attack
- Payton Cormier, Virginia
- Ryan Lanchbury, Richmond
- Connor Shellenberger, Virginia
Midfield
- Luke Frankeny, Richmond
- Xander Dickson, Virginia
- Jeff Conner, Virginia
Defense
- Cole Kastner, Virginia
- Ray Baran, Richmond
- Jake Saunders, Richmond
Goalie
- Matthew Nunes, Virginia
Long-Stick Midfield
- Scott Bower, Virginia
Faceoff
- Petey LaSalla, Virginia