Marquette University Athletics
Cowan and Woodward are All-BIG EAST, MU picked fourth
1/19/2022 11:28:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Mason Woodward was a unanimous selection on defense
NEW YORK – Redshirt sophomores Devon Cowan and Mason Woodward were named to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team and the Marquette University men's lacrosse team was picked to finish fourth, a preseason survey of the league's head coaches revealed on Wednesday afternoon.
Woodward, a 2021 USILA All-American, led all BIG EAST non-faceoff specialists with 54 ground balls last spring and caused a league-high 18 turnovers. He was a three-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honoree during the regular season and was the top coverman for the Golden Eagles. The Towson, Maryland native ended his first full season of competition seventh in Marquette history in both ground balls (82) and caused turnovers (31). Woodward is one of three unanimous preseason all-league picks at close defense and joins Noah Richard (2019) as the only MU players to be unanimous selections on the preseason team.
"Mason's work ethic and competitiveness is up there with the best I've ever seen," Marquette head coach Andrew Stimmel said. "Mason is just incredibly gifted. Some of that is natural, but some of it comes from his work ethic. He has an ability that is unlike I've ever seen to make stick plays. As good as Zach (Granger's) stick is, and some of the other guys I have coached – who have become All-America-level players – he is able to pick passes off from a yard away, where you watch the film, and you can't quite figure out how he does it. Anytime you see something like that in any athlete, that's how you know you have something special."
Cowan turned in the top offensive season ever for a Marquette underclassman, posting 30 goals and 38 points in 2021 while extending his goal-scoring streak to 17 games. The Mount Laurel, New Jersey native posted five hat tricks during the 2021 campaign, including a career-high six goals against No. 10 Georgetown on April 10. His 30 goals tie him for fourth in program history on the single-season ledger, while his 38 points tie him for seventh all-time at MU.
"Devon such a unique player," Stimmel said of Cowan. "He's great below the goal line, he's great above the cage. We try to move him around and rely on him as much as we can to give him different attack angles and different matchups. He's such a handful with the ball in his stick. He's really hard not to slide to even though he's getting covered by some of the best defensemen in the country, just because of his physicality. The one thing that sets him apart is his competitiveness."
In addition to Cowan and Woodward, the Golden Eagles also return 2021 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection Zach Granger on close defense and a young roster that gained experience last season. Marquette opens regular season play on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Bellarmine after its lone exhibition matchup at Ohio State on Jan. 29.
Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Jack Hannah, Denver, M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, GK
All-BIG EAST Preseason Team
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, GK ^
Devon Cowan, Marquette, A
T.J. Haley, Georgetown, A
Matt Grillo, Providence, A
Alex Simmons, Denver, A
Matt Campbell, Villanova, M ^
Graham Bundy, Georgetown, M ^
Jack Hannah, Denver, M ^
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Mason Woodward, Marquette, D ^
Gibson Smith IV, Georgetown, D ^
Alex Mazzone, Georgetown, LSM ^
Zack Geddes, Georgetown, SSDM
James Reilly, Georgetown, FOS
^ denotes unanimous selection
* There is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team due to a tie in voting
Woodward, a 2021 USILA All-American, led all BIG EAST non-faceoff specialists with 54 ground balls last spring and caused a league-high 18 turnovers. He was a three-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honoree during the regular season and was the top coverman for the Golden Eagles. The Towson, Maryland native ended his first full season of competition seventh in Marquette history in both ground balls (82) and caused turnovers (31). Woodward is one of three unanimous preseason all-league picks at close defense and joins Noah Richard (2019) as the only MU players to be unanimous selections on the preseason team.
"Mason's work ethic and competitiveness is up there with the best I've ever seen," Marquette head coach Andrew Stimmel said. "Mason is just incredibly gifted. Some of that is natural, but some of it comes from his work ethic. He has an ability that is unlike I've ever seen to make stick plays. As good as Zach (Granger's) stick is, and some of the other guys I have coached – who have become All-America-level players – he is able to pick passes off from a yard away, where you watch the film, and you can't quite figure out how he does it. Anytime you see something like that in any athlete, that's how you know you have something special."
Cowan turned in the top offensive season ever for a Marquette underclassman, posting 30 goals and 38 points in 2021 while extending his goal-scoring streak to 17 games. The Mount Laurel, New Jersey native posted five hat tricks during the 2021 campaign, including a career-high six goals against No. 10 Georgetown on April 10. His 30 goals tie him for fourth in program history on the single-season ledger, while his 38 points tie him for seventh all-time at MU.
"Devon such a unique player," Stimmel said of Cowan. "He's great below the goal line, he's great above the cage. We try to move him around and rely on him as much as we can to give him different attack angles and different matchups. He's such a handful with the ball in his stick. He's really hard not to slide to even though he's getting covered by some of the best defensemen in the country, just because of his physicality. The one thing that sets him apart is his competitiveness."
In addition to Cowan and Woodward, the Golden Eagles also return 2021 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection Zach Granger on close defense and a young roster that gained experience last season. Marquette opens regular season play on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Bellarmine after its lone exhibition matchup at Ohio State on Jan. 29.
Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Georgetown (5) 25 pts
- Denver (1) 21
- Villanova 17
- Marquette 13
- Providence 9
- St. John's 5
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Jack Hannah, Denver, M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, GK
All-BIG EAST Preseason Team
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, GK ^
Devon Cowan, Marquette, A
T.J. Haley, Georgetown, A
Matt Grillo, Providence, A
Alex Simmons, Denver, A
Matt Campbell, Villanova, M ^
Graham Bundy, Georgetown, M ^
Jack Hannah, Denver, M ^
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Mason Woodward, Marquette, D ^
Gibson Smith IV, Georgetown, D ^
Alex Mazzone, Georgetown, LSM ^
Zack Geddes, Georgetown, SSDM
James Reilly, Georgetown, FOS
^ denotes unanimous selection
* There is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team due to a tie in voting
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