Four Cavaliers Named All-ACC Honorees
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Payton Cormier, Cole Kastner, Griffin Schutz and Connor Shellenberger have been named to the 2024 All-ACC Men’s Lacrosse Team following a vote by the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday (April 30).
Cormier garners his first career All-ACC distinction after leading the nation in both goals (52) and goals per game (3.71) through the regular season. Cormier is the only Cavalier in program history to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons. He was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season. The graduate student has registered a hat trick in 10 of UVA’s 14 total regular-season games played. Cormier scored a season-high seven goals in the Hoos’ road win over Towson, which is currently tied for the most goals scored by an ACC player in a single game this season. Additionally, Cormier leads all active Division I players in career goals (211) and is two away from shattering Justin Guterding’s all-time ACC record.
Kastner earns his second career All-ACC honor having also been tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. This year, Kastner and the Cavaliers’ defense lead the nation in caused turnovers per game (11.57). Additionally, Kastner leads the ACC in caused turnovers (28) and caused turnovers per game (2.00), which is tied for seventh nationally. In addition to drawing UVA opponents’ top attackman, he also anchors a UVA defense that leads the ACC in clearing (.913), ground balls (39.00) and saves (12.93). Kastner and Shellenberger were both named two of 25 Tewaaraton Award nominees on April 18.
Schutz leads all UVA midfielders in both goals (20) and is second in points (31). He is also on pace to have his most prolific goal-scoring season of his career. Schutz has recorded at least one point in 13 games this year. His best performance of the season came in the Cavaliers’ 14-10 road triumph over No. 5 Maryland, when he scored a game-high four goals and dished out two assists. His six points against the Terrapins also tied his career best.
Shellenberger is the fourth player in program history to become a four-time All-ACC recipient and first since Michael Watson did so in 1997. Shellenberger is currently second in the ACC in points (4.93) and third in assists (3.07), also good for ninth and sixth among all Division I players, respectively. Shellenberger has tallied at least five points in seven games this season, including when he tied his career high of 10 points at Towson. He also notched an ACC single-game career high in points after scoring four goals and dishing out five assists at No. 7 Syracuse. Shellenberger is currently one assist away from setting the ACC’s all-time record and one of three players in league history to eclipse 300 career points.
Up next, No. 4 seed Virginia (10-4) takes on No. 1 seed Notre Dame (10-1) in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Friday (May 3). Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. on ACC Network.
2024 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Season Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Pat Kavanagh, Gr., A, Notre Dame
Defensive Player of the Year: Liam Entenmann, Gr., G, Notre Dame
Goalie of the Year: Liam Entenmann, Gr., Notre Dame
Freshman of the Year: Owen Duffy, A, North Carolina
Coach of the Year: Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame
2024 All-ACC Men’s Lacrosse Team
Kenny Brower, Gr., D, Duke
Andrew McAdorey, Jr., M, Duke
Brennan O’Neill, Gr., A, Duke
Josh Zawada, Gr., A, Duke
Owen Duffy, Fr., A, North Carolina
Eric Dobson, Sr., M, Notre Dame
Will Donovan, So., LSM, Notre Dame
Liam Entenmann, Gr., G, Notre Dame
Chris Kavanagh, Jr., A, Notre Dame
Pat Kavanagh, Gr., A, Notre Dame
Will Lynch, Jr., FO, Notre Dame
Ben Ramsey, Jr., SSDM, Notre Dame
Billy Dwan, So., D, Syracuse
Owen Hiltz, Jr., A, Syracuse
Will Mark, Gr., G, Syracuse
Payton Cormier, Gr., A, Virginia
Cole Kastner, Sr., D, Virginia
Griffin Schutz, Jr., M, Virginia
Connor Shellenberger, Gr., A, Virginia