Cade Saustad

TIFFANY ON SAUSTAD
2023 – “While he may not want to be known as the Grandfather of the defense, Cade is as wise and experienced a defensive leader as we have ever had.  To watch and listen to Cade play and direct our defense is to behold 5 years of focused film study, game experience and collaborative team meetings.  The extensive training and repetition have created an elite and ideal captain of our defense.  Cade is rarely satisfied and is always probing to learn what he and our defense can do better.  We will not only ask Cade to serve as our main air-traffic controller, but to continue to cover many of the nation’s best attackmen.” 2022 – “Successfully leading us as a captain with his own style: a rare combination of unsatisfied old-man and sincere concern for each of his teammates… Sets the tone for practice with an intensity and fire to win each drill… Asks the tough questions… Craves the toughest matchups against the nation’s best attackmen, and winning.” 2021 – “Dramatically missed last year, and not just because of his cover skills … combines length with hoover-esque qualities on ground balls … strong foundation of knowledge of the defense, and is growing more comfortable directing others.” 2020 – “How does a first-year handle the pressure of competing in some of the most intense venues in college lacrosse while often being assigned the opposing team’s best attackman? The answer lies in both the poise and competitiveness of the man and also the high-level football experience Cade enjoyed while winning state titles at Highland Park.  Cade’s next step in his evolution includes playing a larger role in commanding the defense.” 2019 – “It did not take long for this first-year to make a strong, positive impression on the rest of us and to climb the depth chart to a place where playing time and even a starting position can be earned.”

2023

• Started in all possible 17 games at close defense
• Led the team with 34 caused turnovers and added 41 ground balls
• His 34 caused turnovers were the most by a UVA player since 2017
• USILA First Team All-American (May 25)
• All-ACC selection (May 9)
• Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American (May 17)
• USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American (May 9)
• Tied his career of four caused turnovers three times: against No. 13 Syracuse (April 22), No. 3 Maryland (March 18), and No. 9 Ohio State (Feb. 25)
• ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Feb. 28)
• Recorded a career-high four caused turnovers against then-No. 9 Ohio State (Feb. 25)
• Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention Preseason All-American
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention Preseason All-American
• Preseason All-ACC Team
• Team captain
• All-ACC Academic Team
• ACC Academic Honor Roll

2022

• USILA Honorable Mention All-American (May 26)
• USILA Scholar All-American (June 20)
• Started in 15 games at close defense
• Collected 27 ground balls and was second on the team with 17 caused turnovers
• Registered his third career assist in UVA’s win at Syracuse (April 23)
• USILA Team of the Week selection (April 12)
• All-ACC Academic selection (June 15)
• Preseason All-ACC selection
• Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American (Honorable Mention)
• Team captain

2021

• USILA All-American (HM)
• NCAA All-Tournament Team
• Part of a defense that held Georgetown’s star attackman Jake Carraway scoreless in the NCAA quarterfinal round, snapping the nation’s longest active goal-scoring streak at 44 games
• Held Tewaaraton Trophy winner Jared Bernhardt to only two goals in NCAA title game, which came off slides
• Started in all 18 of UVA’s games
• Assisted a score against Maryland in the NCAA title game
• Picked up 38 ground balls and caused 17 turnovers
• Had eight ground balls and three caused turnovers in NCAA first round against Bryant
• VaSID All-State defense

2020

• Missed season with an injury

2019

• College Crosse (SB Nation) Freshman All-American (1st)
• NCAA All-Tournament Team
• Appeared in all 20 games with 19 starts at close defense
• Finished the year with 46 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers
• Part of a defense that held Yale, the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense, to its lowest output of the year (9 goals) in the NCAA title game
• Picked up six ground balls and caused one turnover against Yale in the NCAA title game
• Picked up 11 ground balls and caused three turnovers in the NCAA Tournament
• Made collegiate debut against Loyola and picked up three ground balls

HIGH SCHOOL

• Listed as the No. 18 recruit in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Listed as the No. 4 defenseman in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Under Armour All-American
• First Highland Park student-athlete to be named a three-time All-American
• Three-time all-state honoree
• Team captain and MVP
• Adrenalin All-American
• USA Today first-team All-USA
• Four-year starting defenseman
• Won the 2015 Texas state championship
• Won back-to-back state championships on the football team in 2016 and 2017
• First-team all-state in football
• Set a few receiving records including 221 yards in the Texas State Championship
• Owns school record for single-game receiving (268) and most career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Cornerstone Scholar Athlete
• Academic all-state
• Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

PERSONAL

• Son of Megan and Don Saustad
• Has two brothers, Matthew and Campbell
• Grandfather, Jesse Longhofer, played football at Texas A&I-Kingsville and was a captain on a national championship team
• Uncle, David Longhofer, was a quarterback at Texas State and won a national championship
• Uncle, Matt Longhofer, played at Texas A&M from 1990-92
• Majoring in Economics