BETHLEHEM, Pa. —  In a vote cast by the league's coaches and sports information directors, the Navy men's lacrosse team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Poll, it was announced by the conference office Thursday morning. Additionally, Navy's returning All-Americans Jackson Bonitz (Sr / D / Shrewsbury, Pa.) and Max Hewitt (Sr / M / Denver, Colo.) were named to the preseason all-league team.     

Breaking Down the Poll
Army, the defending Patriot League Champion, secured 14 of the 18 first-place votes (eligible for only 16 due to not being able to vote for your own team) and amassed 126 points to top the poll for the first time since 2011. It's only the second time (2023, Boston U/) since Loyola joined the Patriot League in 2014 that the Greyhounds were not the preseason favorite.

Boston U., who claimed the league title in 2022, earned 103 points and a first place vote to finish second in the balloting, while Loyola, who has won at least a share of the regular-season title in 7 of its 10 years as a member of the league, posted 99 points to finish third. The remaining three first-place votes were scattered among the field with Navy earning a vote and 84 points to come in fourth, while Lehigh also had a first-place vote and 82 points to take fifth. Lafayette accounted for the final first-place vote and was selected sixth with 87 points, followed by Bucknell (44), Colgate (33) and Holy Cross (17).

Navy in the Patriot League
The Mids have won at least a share of the regular-season Patriot League title in 8 (2004-05-06-07-08-15-16-18) of the 19 seasons they have been a member of the conference. Meanwhile Navy has compiled an 11-10 record in the Patriot League Tournament to earn 5 conference tournament crowns (2004-05-06-07-09). Navy has amassed an 88-47 (65.2) regular-season record in the Patriot League since 2004 in joining what is now a nine-member lacrosse conference (Hobart left following the '04 campaign; Loyola and Boston U. joined in 2014), and includes two undefeated seasons (2004, '07).

The Cream of the Crop
In addition to the preseason poll, the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team was also unveiled and headlining the 16-player team were the Patriot League's Preseason Players of the Year -  Offense (Scott Cole / Lehigh / Sr), Defense (AJ Pilate / Army / Jr), Goalkeeper (Luke Staudt, Loyola / Sr) and Faceoff (Will Coletti, Army / Jr).

The 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team is comprised of 7 grad/5th-year students, 4 seniors, 2 juniors and 3 sophomores. Five of the 9 teams placed players on the preseason team, including Army who led the way with 5 players. Loyola had 4 players, Boston U. had 3 players and Lehigh and Navy had 2 apiece.

A two-time All-American (2022, '23 USILA / 2022, '23 Inside Lacrosse / 2022, '23 USA Lacrosse Magazine), Jackson Bonitz has been a three-year starter at close defense for the Mids. The three-time All-Patriot League standout (2nd team in 2021, 1st team in 2022, '23), led a defensive unit that ended the 2023 campaign ranked 11th nationally and second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (10.44 GPG). Bonitz paced the Mids with 22 caused turnovers last spring and became just the seventh different Navy player to reach 20 caused turnovers in a single season. Meanwhile, he stands fifth on the all-time list with 50, trailing record holder Matt Rees (2014-17) by 34.

A three-time All-Patriot League selection, Bonitz is making his third appearance on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. He is only the 14th player in program history to earn All-Patriot League honors at least 3 times and is looking to join Brady Dove (2014-17) as Navy's only four-time honorees.

Max Hewitt, who joined Bonitz as the only two players to start all 16 contests last spring, led Navy in scoring with 36 points on 24 goals and 12 assists. He is only the eighth different midfielder in school history to score 30 points multiple times in a career, joining Greyson Torain (2017-18-19), Ryan Wade (2018-19), Graham Gill (2004-05), Jamie Slough (1992-93-94), Brian Keith (1989-90), Glen Miles (1984-86) and Mike Chanenchuk (1977-78-79). His 36 points last year are the 12th most by a midfielder in program history, while his 32 points scored in 2022 are tied as the 22nd most.

A 2023 First-Team All-Patriot League selection, Hewitt played a key role throughout the season and in particular when injuries began to take a toll, including to his fellow starting linemates. Hewitt elevated his play and recorded 15 points (12G, 3A) during the Mids' four-game winning streak late in the season that included wins over nationally-ranked programs Boston U. and Loyola. He also tallied a team-high 10 multi-point games in 2023, including a team-best 7 multi-goal contests to go along with a pair of multi-assist games.

This is Hewitt's first time being named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.

Both players, along with Jackson Peters (Sr / SSDM / Darien, Conn.) have also been named to the 2024 USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America teams.

Season Opener Fast Approaching
Navy will open its 117th year of varsity lacrosse on Feb. 3 when it plays host to Mount St. Mary's at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with faceoff slated for 12-noon. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will also be carried on 1430 AM / 99.9 FM WNAV with Pete Medhurst and/or Joe Miller on the call.

Single-game tickets for home Navy men's lacrosse games are on sale now and may be purchased by stopping by the Navy Ticket Office at Ricketts Hall, by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY, via the internet at www.navysports.com or at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on game day. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under, while groups of 20 or more will be offered a discounted ticket (in advance only, contact Jordan Albright at 410-293-8791 / grouptickets@usna.edu). Additionally there is a $10 charge to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for all games.

2024 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Army, 126 points (14 first-place votes)
2. Boston U., 103 (1)
3. Loyola, 99
4. Navy, 84 (1)
5. Lehigh, 82 (1)
6. Lafayette, 60 (1)
7. Bucknell, 44
8. Colgate, 33
9. Holy Cross, 17

2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team
A - Reese Burek, Army (5th Yr)
A - Vince D'Alto, Boston U. (Gr)
A - Scott Cole, Lehigh (Sr)
A - Matt Minicus, Loyola (So)
M - Jake Morin, Army (5th Yr)
M - Evan Plunkett, Army (So)
M - Evan James, Loyola (Gr)
M - Max Hewitt, Navy (Sr)
D - AJ Pilate, Army (Jr)
D - Patrick Morrison, Boston U. (Gr)
D - Richard Checo, Lehigh (So)
D - Jackson Bonitz, Navy (Sr)
GK - Luke Staudt, Loyola (Sr)
FO - Will Coletti, Army (Jr)
LSM - Roy Meyer, Boston U. (Gr)
SSM - Mustang Sally, Loyola (Gr)

Preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year:  Scott Cole, Lehigh (Sr / A)
Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year:  AJ Pilate, Army (Jr / D)
Preseason Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year:  Luke Staudt, Loyola (Sr)
Preseason Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Year:  Will Coletti, Army (Jr)

### Go Navy ###