ANNAPOLIS, Md. —  Six members of the Navy men's lacrosse team were named to the 2021 All-Patriot League Team announced Tuesday morning, including Spencer Rees (Sr / Baltimore, Md.) who was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year. Three of Navy's six all-league selections were named to the 16-player first team, while all six are first-time winners of postseason accolades. It's the ninth time since Navy joined the Patriot League (2004) that it has had six or more players garner All-Patriot League recognition, while it's the 13th time one of its players has been the recipient of one of the five major awards.


First-Team All-Patriot League
Patrick Skalniak  - So. | M | Dallas, Texas | The Episcopal School of Dallas
Navy's second-leading scorer overall and leading scorer out of the midfield, sophomore Patrick Skalniak has produced 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists this spring. Averaging 2.63 points per contest, he is the league's top-scoring midfielder among the likes of fellow first-teamers John Sidorski of Lehigh (2.60), Peter Swindell of Loyola (2.17) and Bobby Abshire of Army (2.00). A starter in every game since arriving in Annapolis a year ago (13 gms), Skalniak owns the team's second-longest active point streak heading into the Patriot League Tournament, having produced at least one point in 13-consecutive game. He has produced 31 points on 15 goals and 16 assists during that timeframe, scoring goals in 10 of the 13 games. Additionally, he has recorded multiple points in nine of the 13 contests during his career, including five this season.

Nick Franchuk  - Sr. | D | Southport, Conn. | Fairfield College Prep
A starter in 22 games, including each of the last 19, senior co-captain Nick Franchuk is Navy's first defensive member of the All-Patriot League First Team since Michael Strack was selected as a senior in 2018. He has played an integral role in Navy's defensive unit being ranked among the top 15 in three of his four seasons, including this spring with the Mids holding their foes to 9.25 goals per game and stand #7 nationally. Navy has held three of its eight opponents to single digits and five to 10 or fewer, earning wins in all five of those contests. Among them, Navy defeated Army 9-4, holding the Black Knights to their lowest goal output since 2017, as well as their fewest goals in an Army-Navy Game since the Mids defeated Army 8-4 on April 11, 2009. Franchuk played a huge role in that contest, as he held 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and Tewaaraton Award nominee Brendan Nichtern scoreless for just the third time in his career. Franchuk leads the team with 11 caused turnovers this spring and is tied for 14th on the Mids' all-time caused turnovers leader board with 24. Respected by his teammates and coaches alike, Franchuk has had the honor of wearing jersey #40 this spring in remembrance of fallen Navy SEAL and former Navy lacrosse player Lt. Brendan Looney, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

Spencer Rees - Sr. | GK | Baltimore, Md. | Boys' Latin
After patiently serving in a supporting role at goalkeeper for three seasons, senior Spencer Rees has had nothing short of a sensational senior campaign that has been highlighted by being named the 2021 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year. He is the fourth different Navy player to be selected for the award, joining Matt Russell (2005, 2006), RJ Wickham (2010) and John Connors (2016). Rees, whose start against Mount St. Mary's in the opener was his first since his middle school years, anchors a defensive unit that stands #7 in the country and #2 in the Patriot League in scoring defense (9.25), while its man-down squad has stopped 18 of its opponents' 26 extra-man opportunities for a 69.2 efficiency mark which is ranked #20 nationally and #2 in the league. Rees' individual stats are even more impressive, however, as he ranks #2 nationally in save percentage (60.9), #5 in saves per game (14.00) and #8 in goals-against average. His 60.9 save percentage is the best by a Navy netminder  since 2000 when Mickey Jarboe led the country with his 64.8 save percentage en route to winning the Kelly Award as the nation's top goalkeeper.

Second-Team All-Patriot League
Christian Daniel - Sr. | A | Owings, Md. | Northern
A four-year starter for the Mids at attack, senior co-captain Christian Daniel remarkably is receiving the first All-Patriot League citation of his stellar career. A starter in 38 of the 39 games in which he played over four seasons (40 possible), he has scored a point in 37 (Loyola, Syracuse 2019) and a goal in 34. In 39 career games, he has had multiple points 29 times, multiple goals 21 times, 10 hat tricks and 14 multi-assist contests.  Ranked 23rd on Navy's all-time scoring leader board with 118 points, he became the 36th player in program history to reach the 100-point milestone when he recorded the ninth hat trick of his career in the Mids' loss to Loyola on April 3. He is just three outside of the top 20 (Brendan Schneck / 1977-78 / 121 pts). Additionally, he is on the verge of joining the Mids' all-time goals leader board, needing just one (has 74) to tie T.J. Hanzsche (2013-16) and Bob Pell (1970-72) for 20th. Daniel is Navy's leading scorer this spring with 27 points on 14 goals and 13 assists, both team bests. He owns the team's longest active point streak heading into the Patriot League Tournament, having produced a point in 14-consecutive games. During that timeframe, he has recorded 52 points on 27 goals and 25 assists and has totaled multiple points in 12 of those 14 contests

Jackson Bonitz - Fr. | D | Shrewsbury, Pa. | McDonogh School (Md.)
A member of the 2020 U.S. Men's U19 Team and a five-start recruit that was ranked #8 overall and #2 among defenseman by Inside Lacrosse, Jackson Bonitz has flourished in his rookie season as a member of the Mids' starting defensive unit. He is only the third Navy freshman to garner All-Patriot League accolades, joining midfielder Basil Daratsos (2007) and faceoff specialist Brady Dove (2014). Second on the team in caused turnovers (10) and ground balls (25), he is ranked 56th nationally in caused turnovers per game. He has amassed the fifth-most caused turnovers by a Navy freshman in program history, trailing record holders Chris Fennell (2014) and senior teammate Andrew McKenna by just three. He has played a significant role in Navy's defensive unit being ranked #7 nationally this spring, holding its foes to 9.25 goals per game. Navy has held three of its eight opponents to single digits and five to 10 or fewer, earning wins in all five of those contests. Among them, Navy defeated Army 9-4, holding the Black Knights to their lowest goal output since 2017, as well as their fewest goals in an Army-Navy Game since the Mids defeated Army 8-4 on April 11, 2009. Additionally, the man-down squad has stopped 18 of its opponents' 26 extra-man opportunities for a 69.2 efficiency mark which is ranked #20 nationally and #2 in the league. In Navy's win at Loyola on April 17, Bonitz scored his first-collegiate goal, while recording a career-high four caused turnovers and three ground balls.

Tim Griffin - Sr. | SSDM | Rickville, Md. | Our Lady of Good Counsel
Having seen action in 36 of the 40 games during his collegiate career, Tim Griffin becomes the first Navy short-stick defensive midfielder to garner all-league recognition from the Patriot League since DJ Plumer was named to the second team in 2018. Griffin has played an invaluable role in Navy's defensive unit being ranked among the top 15 in three of his four seasons, including this spring with the Mids holding their foes to 9.25 goals per game and stand #7 nationally. Navy has held three of its eight opponents to single digits and five to 10 or fewer, earning wins in all five of those contests. Among them, Navy defeated Army 9-4, holding the Black Knights to their lowest goal output since 2017, as well as their fewest goals in an Army-Navy Game since the Mids defeated Army 8-4 on April 11, 2009. Additionally, the man-down squad has stopped 18 of its opponents' 26 extra-man opportunities for a 69.2 efficiency mark which is ranked #20 nationally and #2 in the league.

The 2021 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Tournament kicks off this evening with quarterfinal contests featuring Navy at Loyola (5:00 pm / ESPN+) and Colgate at Boston U. (6:00 pm / ESPN+). Top-seeded Lehigh will play host to the Patriot League Semifinals (Friday / 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm) and Championship Game (Sunday / 12:00 pm) which will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.


2021 All-Patriot League Team

Offensive Player of the Year:  Brendan Nichtern / Army, Jr., A
Defensive Player of the Year:  Marcus Hudgins / Army, Jr. D
Goalkeeper of the Year:  Spencer Rees / Navy, Sr.
FO Specialist of the Year:  Mike Sisselberger / Lehigh, Jr.
Rookie of the Year:  Peter Lehman / Lafayette, Fr., A
William Lawson Coach of the Year:  Kevin Cassese / Lehigh

First Team
A    Brendan Nichtern / Army, Jr.
A    Tommy Schelling / Lehigh, Jr.
A    Kevin Lindley / Loyola, Sr.
A    Aidan Olmstead / Loyola, Sr.
M    Bobby Abshire / Army, Jr.
M    John Sidorski / Lehigh, So.
M    Peter Swindell / Loyola, Gr.
M    Patrick Skalniak / Navy, So.
D    Marcus Hudgins / Army, Jr.
D    Anthony Tangredi / Lehigh, Jr.
D    Cam Wyers / Loyola, Jr.
D    Nick Franchuk / Navy Sr.
LSM    Ryan McNulty / Loyola, Gr.
SSDM    Matt Higgins / Loyola, Sr.
GK    Spencer Rees / Navy, Sr.
FO    Mike Sisselberger / Lehigh, Jr.

Second Team
A    Vince D'Alto / Boston U., Jr.
A    Brian Minicus / Colgate, Jr.
A    Cole Kirst / Lehigh, Jr.
A    Christian Daniel / Navy, Sr.
M    Gunner Phillipp / Army, Jr.
M    Christian Quadrino / Boston U., Fr.
M    Andrew Eichelberger / Lehigh, Gr.
M    Evan James / Loyola, So.
D    Kyle Beyer / Army, Sr.
D    Bryant Boswell / Bucknell, Sr.
D    Chris Conlin / Holy Cross, Jr.
D    Jackson Bonitz / Navy, Fr.
LSM    Teddy Leggett / Lehigh, Sr.
SSDM    Tim Griffin / Navy, Sr.
GK    Wyatt Schupler / Army, Jr.
FO    Bailey Savio / Loyola, Sr.

### Go Navy ###