Marquette University Athletics
O’Grady, Woodward and Lamarca are Preseason All-BIG EAST
1/24/2023 12:00:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
The Golden Eagles are picked to finish fourth in the league’s preseason coaches survey
NEW YORK – Marquette University men's lacrosse players Bobby O'Grady, Mason Woodward and David Lamarca were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, while the Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the league's annual preseason coaches' survey.
O'Grady was the league's rookie of the year last spring and a first team all-conference selection after setting the MU single-season record with 45 goals. The native of Milton, Massachusetts scored 13 man-up goals as a true freshman and tied the BIG EAST single-game record on April 9 at St. John's with eight scores.
Woodward is a two-time USILA All-American on close defense and a three-time team captain. The native of Towson, Maryland was a unanimous selection on defense alongside Georgetown's Will Bowen and Jack DeBenedetto of Denver.
Woodward has led the Golden Eagles in caused turnovers in each of his three seasons and is the program's all-time leader in ground balls per game (4.59 per contest). He returns as the league's leader in ground balls among non-faceoff specialists and was a first team all-conference selection in 2021 in addition to second team honors last year.
Lamarca earns the first BIG EAST honor of his career as the league's lone long-stick midfielder on the preseason team. The native of Monkton, Maryland posted 46 ground balls and caused 12 turnovers last season while playing all 15 games and making nine starts on close defense. He is the first MU LSM to earn recognition since USILA All-American Noah Richard in 2019.
It is the fifth time Marquette has had at least three players earn preseason accolades and the first time since 2019 when the Golden Eagles were pegged to finish second.
The 2023 season marks the 10th BIG EAST campaign for the Golden Eagles, who competed in 2013 as an independent before joining the league in 2014. MU was picked seventh in that first season in the BIG EAST but finished second. The Golden Eagles have finished above their projected placement in five of the eight seasons to see a conclusion of conference action.
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 Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
1. Georgetown (5) 25 pts.
2. Denver 20
3. Villanova (1) 18
4. Marquette 13
5. Providence 9
6. St. John's 5
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, M
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
JJ Sillstrop, Denver, A ^
Tucker Dordevic, Georgetown, A
TJ Haley, Georgetown, A
Bobby O'Grady, Marquette, A
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, M ^
Declan McDermott, Georgetown, M
Matt Campbell, Villanova, M ^
Jack DiBenedetto, Denver, D ^
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Mason Woodward, Marquette, D ^
Chet Comizio, Villanova, SSDM
David Lamarca, Marquette, LSM
James Reilly, Georgetown, FOS ^
Jack Thompson, Denver, GK
^ denotes unanimous selection
* There is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team due to a tie in voting
Marquette's BIG EAST Preseason History
All-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM (*unanimous selection)
2023
David Lamarca, Jr., LSM
Bobby O'Grady, So., A
Mason Woodward, R-Jr., D*
2022
Devon Cowan, R-So., A
Mason Woodward, R-So., D
2019
Nick Grill, Jr., D
Noah Richard, Sr., LSM*
John Wagner, Sr., A
2018
Cole Blazer, Sr., G
Nick Grill, So., D
Zachary Melillo, Sr., FO
2017
Ryan McNamara, Sr., A
2016
Liam Byrnes, GS, D
B.J. Grill, GS., D
Conor Gately, Sr., A
Kyle Whitlow, R-Sr., M
2015
B.J. Grill, R-Jr., D
Liam Byrnes, R-Jr., LSM
Kyle Whitlow, Jr., M
BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL (actual finish)
2023: Fourth
2022: Fourth (Fourth)
2021: Fifth (T-Fourth)
2020: Fifth (N/A)
2019: Second (Fifth)
2018: Fourth (T-Second)
2017: Third (Fourth)
2016: Third (Second)
2015: Fourth (Third)
2014: Seventh (Second)
O'Grady was the league's rookie of the year last spring and a first team all-conference selection after setting the MU single-season record with 45 goals. The native of Milton, Massachusetts scored 13 man-up goals as a true freshman and tied the BIG EAST single-game record on April 9 at St. John's with eight scores.
Woodward is a two-time USILA All-American on close defense and a three-time team captain. The native of Towson, Maryland was a unanimous selection on defense alongside Georgetown's Will Bowen and Jack DeBenedetto of Denver.
Woodward has led the Golden Eagles in caused turnovers in each of his three seasons and is the program's all-time leader in ground balls per game (4.59 per contest). He returns as the league's leader in ground balls among non-faceoff specialists and was a first team all-conference selection in 2021 in addition to second team honors last year.
Lamarca earns the first BIG EAST honor of his career as the league's lone long-stick midfielder on the preseason team. The native of Monkton, Maryland posted 46 ground balls and caused 12 turnovers last season while playing all 15 games and making nine starts on close defense. He is the first MU LSM to earn recognition since USILA All-American Noah Richard in 2019.
It is the fifth time Marquette has had at least three players earn preseason accolades and the first time since 2019 when the Golden Eagles were pegged to finish second.
The 2023 season marks the 10th BIG EAST campaign for the Golden Eagles, who competed in 2013 as an independent before joining the league in 2014. MU was picked seventh in that first season in the BIG EAST but finished second. The Golden Eagles have finished above their projected placement in five of the eight seasons to see a conclusion of conference action.
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 Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
1. Georgetown (5) 25 pts.
2. Denver 20
3. Villanova (1) 18
4. Marquette 13
5. Providence 9
6. St. John's 5
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, M
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
JJ Sillstrop, Denver, A ^
Tucker Dordevic, Georgetown, A
TJ Haley, Georgetown, A
Bobby O'Grady, Marquette, A
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, M ^
Declan McDermott, Georgetown, M
Matt Campbell, Villanova, M ^
Jack DiBenedetto, Denver, D ^
Will Bowen, Georgetown, D ^
Mason Woodward, Marquette, D ^
Chet Comizio, Villanova, SSDM
David Lamarca, Marquette, LSM
James Reilly, Georgetown, FOS ^
Jack Thompson, Denver, GK
^ denotes unanimous selection
* There is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team due to a tie in voting
Marquette's BIG EAST Preseason History
All-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM (*unanimous selection)
2023
David Lamarca, Jr., LSM
Bobby O'Grady, So., A
Mason Woodward, R-Jr., D*
2022
Devon Cowan, R-So., A
Mason Woodward, R-So., D
2019
Nick Grill, Jr., D
Noah Richard, Sr., LSM*
John Wagner, Sr., A
2018
Cole Blazer, Sr., G
Nick Grill, So., D
Zachary Melillo, Sr., FO
2017
Ryan McNamara, Sr., A
2016
Liam Byrnes, GS, D
B.J. Grill, GS., D
Conor Gately, Sr., A
Kyle Whitlow, R-Sr., M
2015
B.J. Grill, R-Jr., D
Liam Byrnes, R-Jr., LSM
Kyle Whitlow, Jr., M
BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL (actual finish)
2023: Fourth
2022: Fourth (Fourth)
2021: Fifth (T-Fourth)
2020: Fifth (N/A)
2019: Second (Fifth)
2018: Fourth (T-Second)
2017: Third (Fourth)
2016: Third (Second)
2015: Fourth (Third)
2014: Seventh (Second)
Players Mentioned
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
D/LSM
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
D
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