ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – With just over a week until the start of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s lacrosse 2024 season, three Seahawks are receiving Division III Preseason All-America accolades from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) and Inside Lacrosse (IL).
Junior Quinnten Hatfield (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) gained USILA/Blatant Preseason Third Team All-America honors as a short-stick defensive midfielder while Hatfield, junior Keegan Preis (Upper Falls, Md./Loyola Blakefield), and senior Ethan Little(Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) all picked up IL Preseason Honorable Mention All-America awards.
“I am very excited for Ethan, Keegan, and Quinten. This is an awesome recognition for the work they have put into their game. We talk about awards being receipts for the work that was put into building that skill, so for them this is just another receipt, but a great one at that,” ninth-year Head Coach Jason Childs said.
The trio garnered Honorable Mention USILA/Blatant All-America awards as well as First Team All-United East Conference honors last season.
In 2023, Hatfield collected a team second-best 22 caused turnovers and scooped up a team fourth-best 39 ground balls. The 6-4 defensive midfielder was an asset offensively as well with six goals and five assists.
The reigning United East Offensive Player of the Year, Preis set two school single-game records for assists and points last season and established the school single-season record for assists at 66. The 6-0 attackman finished his junior campaign ranked sixth in Division III with a conference-best 3.14 assists per game while leading the United East with 66 assists and 86 points.
Named to the USILA Division III Team of the Week and selected as the United East Offensive Player of the Week, Preis also added 39 ground balls, 20 goals, and six caused turnovers last season.
Little, the 2023 United East Defensive Player of the Year, was a dual threat for St. Mary’s College, disrupting offenses at every turn and finding the back of the net in transition. The 6-0 defenseman ranked second in the conference with a team-best 41 caused turnovers, ranking him 94th in Division III with 1.95 caused turnovers per game.
Little came in fourth with a team second-best 71 ground balls while tallying 12 points on 10 goals and two helpers. Twice named the United East Defensive Player of the Week, he also earned a spot on the USILA Division III Team of the Week in 2023.
Last season saw St. Mary’s College capture the program’s second consecutive United East tournament championship title as well as its second appearance in the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament. Additionally, the Seahawks earned the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament win with a 10-5 victory over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the first round. SMCM also set the single-season record for wins with a 15-6 record.
Childs added, “As excited as they are, I also know them well enough to know that they are more interested in keeping at the work that is needed for our team to accomplish more than we have in any other season. That is what makes these guys so great to coach!”
The Seahawks, who received votes in this week’s USILA/Blatant Division III Preseason Poll, open the new campaign on February 10 at the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium, hosting Southern Virginia University in non-conference action at 1 pm.
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