Payton Cormier

TIFFANY ON CORMIER
2024 – “Payton is still here?! Yes, a Dom Starsia-era commit still competes for UVA despite the 8-year gap since Dom led the program. Payton is completing a Master’s degree as well as his collegiate lacrosse career this spring. But there is a freshness about his approach to playing and his personal preparation. Payton has an astounding ability to catch a wide array of feeds and then is multiple in his types of shot releases and locations on the opposing cage. He is a goal-scoring hunter and an ideal target for his teammates, especially QB Shellenberger.”  2023 – “No one is more present on game-day than Payton.  His extensive box lacrosse experience since his youth means Payton has played in more meaningful games where the results really matter.  This translates to us having a lethal goal scorer roaming our offensive end, whether he is on the left wing or in the crease.  Payton has proven himself both as a midfielder and attackman, and he is eager to be reunited with Thomas McConvey in our 6v6 offensive sets.” 2022 – “Already a skilled and deadly shooter, he elevated his accuracy this Fall semester… Wants to take the shot, both in the regular flow of a game and in the most pressurized of moments… Sees the field really well, firing feeds through opposing defenses… Razor-focused on game day, staying sharp in the moment.”  2021 – “Shoots first, ask questions later … more athletic than first glance … don’t mistake his reserved demeanor – he is an extremely passionate lacrosse player … dangerous scorer inside and outside … better vision than assumed.” 2020 – “Serving as a testament to the rehabilitation efforts of our medical and training staffs, Payton has remained steadfast in his commitment to returning to the field better and stronger than before his knee injury in November of 2018.  The results have been impressive to observe on the practice field and in scrimmages this fall.  Payton is a dangerous scoring threat due to fantastic hands and his savvy use of his size in crowded spaces.” 2019 – “The physical transformation of this man started with his first day in the weight room: it was gratifying to witness the change! Unfortunately he will miss the spring season of 2019 due to injury.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Concluded his career as the NCAA Division I career goals record holder (224)
• Set UVA’s single-season goals record with 65 in 2024
• Signed with PLL’s New York Atlas as an undrafted free agent
• Drafted fourth overall in the 2023 NLL Draft by the Vancouver Warriors

2024

• USILA Third Team All-American
• Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American
• USA Lacrosse Second Team All-American
• All-ACC Team
• Team Offensive MVP Recipient at Virginia Men’s Lacrosse Annual Banquet
• His 65 goals set the program’s single-season record
• Tied the programs’ single-game record with eight goals in UVA’s NCAA First Round win over No. 13 Saint Joseph’s (May 11)
• His eight goals also set shattered both the NCAA Division I career goals record and UVA’s single-game record in an NCAA Tournament game
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (April 2)
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (March 26)
• ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Feb. 20)
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Third Team All-American
• Drafted No. 4 overall in the 2023 NLL Draft by the Vancouver Warriors (Sept. 16, 2023)

2023

• Scored 52 goals and recorded 12 assists in 15 starts at attack
• Became the first-ever UVA player to record at least 50 goals in multiple seasons
• His 3.47 goals-per-game average and 48.1 shooting percentage were both good for second in the ACC and sixth nationally
• USILA All-American Honorable Mention (May 25)
• Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American (May 17)
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American (May 9)
• Tewaaraton Award Nominee (April 20)
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (Feb. 28)
• His six goals against Richmond (May 13) tied the program’s NCAA Tournament single-game record
• Scored a career-high seven goals against then-No. 9 Ohio State (Feb. 18)
• His seven goals against the Crimson tied for No. 2 all-time in program single-game history
• Tied his career high of seven points (5g, 2a) against Michigan (Feb. 11)
• Inside Lacrosse Third Team Preseason All-American
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention Preseason All-American
• ACC Academic Honor Roll

2022

• Appeared in all 16 games, including 15 starts
• Led UVA with 50 goals and was second on the team with 60 points
• USILA Honorable Mention All-American (May 26)
• USILA Scholar All-American (June 20)
• ACC All-Academic selection (June 14)
• VaSID All-State Team (June 29)
• UVA’s fifth-ever 50-goal scorer in a single season and first since 2019
• His 3.12 goals-per-game average was third in the ACC
• Recorded 14 multi-goal games, including nine hat tricks
• Picked up 33 ground balls, good for third on the team
• Tallied a game-high five goals in UVA’s NCAA First Round win at No. 8 seed Brown (May 14)
• Posted a career-high four assists in UVA’s win over Quinnipiac (April 16)
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (March 8)
• Tied his career high with six goals in Virginia’s 19-8 win over then-No. 14/15 Johns Hopkins (March 5)
• With six goals against JHU, became the first player since 2013 to score at least six games in multiple games (career)
• Scored four goals on a career-high 12 shots at Towson (Feb. 19)

2021

• USILA All-American (HM)
• Led UVA with 45 goals and was third on the team with 53 points
• Appeared in all 18 of UVA’s games with 17 starts
• Recorded multi-goal games in 14 of UVA’s 18 contests
• Notched eight hat-tricks
• Scored six goals in season-opening win over Towson
• Scored five goals against Robert Morris and at Notre Dame
• No. 5 in the nation and No 2 in the ACC with 45 goals
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (March 23)
• VaSID All-State for attack

2020

• College Crosse (SB Nation) Freshman All-American (1st)
• Started all six of UVA’s games at midfield
• Scored 12 goals and dished seven assists
• Scored three goals in collegiate debut against Loyola
• Had a career day against High Point with four goals and five points
• No. 18 in the nation with a .500 shooting percentage

2019

• Missed entire season with an injury

HIGH SCHOOL

• Listed as the No. 26 recruit in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Listed as the No. 6 attackman in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Played lacrosse, football, basketball and hockey at Oakville
• Two-time captain and two-time team MVP
• Recorded on OFSAA appearance
• Five-time Provincial champion and five-time national champion
• Leading scorer in the national tournament
• Two-time Ontario lacrosse all-star
• Ontario Lacrosse MVP
• Oakville High School Athlete of the Year
• Was a captain for two years in football and basketball and once in hockey
• Helped hockey to an undefeated season and a Halton semifinal appearance
• Football was team MVP and helped lead Oakville to a Halton Championship
• Member of the Academic Honor Roll
• Volunteer work includes working hockey camps

PERSONAL

• Son of Karen and Chris Cormier
• Has an older brother, Christopher
• Pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Psychology