EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette men's lacrosse team held its annual alumni weekend and banquet as part of the College's Homecoming Weekend on College Hill.

On Friday, festivities began with a Lafayette lacrosse legends game, followed by a game that featured the current team versus younger alumni. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the new Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center for an alumni social event. The following day the program held its annual banquet to dole out awards for the historic 2025 season.

"Alumni weekend means so much to our program. This year was extra special as our alums saw the new home for Lafayette lacrosse for the first time. The Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center is the house that they built through all their hard work, commitment and belief in a vision," head coach Patrick Myers said. "Honoring the Class of 2025 and their remarkable senior year was the icing on the cake. From the time that I became head coach here at Lafayette, I envisioned an alumni game that featured multiple classes of guys, competing against our current team and fostering that competitive atmosphere built on our common love for Lafayette lacrosse.

"Seeing alums from near and far with their kids, running around and playing on our new field and enjoying our new home, was a moment we will cherish forever. It was impactful seeing our current team reconnect with old teammates and form new bonds with alumni spanning many decades. Congratulations to all of our award recipients and thank you to the Class of 2025 who put Lafayette lacrosse on the map!"

Several team awards were given out by the Leopards, during the team's banquet on Saturday. The award winners and presenters are listed below.

DMGB Strength and Conditioning Award
This player consistently showed improvement in the weight room and had the ability to impact his teammates through his positive attitude and exceptional work ethic during strength and conditioning workouts. Doesn't Matter – Get Better.
Presenter: Steve Plunkett, Director of Strength and Conditioning
Winner: Jack Galbraith '25

Rookie of the Year
Awarded to the freshman who made the most valuable contributions to help his team's success throughout the entire season.
Presenter: Peter Lehman '24
Winner: Joshua Heaney

Academic Excellence Award
Awarded to a member of the Lafayette lacrosse Team who had the highest GPA after the course of the year from Fall 2023 – Spring 2024.
Presenter: Katherine Hennessey, Assistant Director for Student-Athlete Success
Winners: Patrick Kenah '28, Andrew Matarese '28

Most Improved Player
Awarded to the player who, through personal effort to develop his lacrosse ability, has shown the greatest improvement this past season.
Presenter: Louis Baloh '24
Winner: Matt Skibniewski '25

David Heard Unsung Hero Award
David Heard sadly lost his battle with Neuroblastoma in 2011 at the age of 10. David was a friend of College Hill as his parents were closely connected with Lafayette. David started the Crane project to bring hope to children with cancer. David's wish was to find a cure for childhood cancer one day, as a 10-year-old David had a life and spirit that is not often found in children that age, he is an inspiration to all of us. The David Heard Unsung Hero award is given to a Lafayette Lacrosse player who represents grit, perseverance, and has overcome adversity while still maintaining a positive attitude amongst his teammates and coaching staff. This person inspires his teammates to overcome any challenge, big or small, and displays the mental toughness to keep fighting.
Presenter: Charlie Cunniffe '24 and Tom Heard
Winner: Liam Sargent '25

Leopard Award
Awarded to the player who showed the greatest toughness on ground balls and consistently showed physical/mental toughness on a daily basis. He defines what "playing like a leopard" looks like.
Presenter: Tommy McGee '24
Winner: Cade Kilbride '25

Ron Constable '85 Brotherhood Award
Awarded to the player who consistently inspired and led his teammates both on and off the field through his unselfishness, outstanding leadership, and "We Over Me" mindset. This player consistently built high levels of trust with his teammates and the staff, through daily relentless effort, and an unwavering loyalty to the brotherhood.
Presenter: Sean Rushton '24
Winner: Gabe Cummins '25

Offensive MVP
Awarded to the member of the Lafayette Lacrosse team who made the most valuable contribution on the offensive end to help his team's success throughout the entire season.
Presenter: Troy Haefele, Assistant Coach
Winner: Riley Sullivan '25

Defensive MVP
Awarded to the member of the Lafayette Lacrosse team who made the most valuable contributions on the defensive end to help his team's success throughout the entire season.
Presenter: Jud Hall, Associate Head Coach
Winner: Joe Doherty

Bill Lawson Service to Lafayette Lacrosse Award
Coach Lawson was a great person, who had a tremendous impact as a coach and teacher of hundreds of student-athletes. He enjoyed being around the kids, teaching them, and making them just a little bit better. His legacy is not tied to the wins and losses, rather it is instead tied to the important things in life.  While Coach Lawson was coaching at Lafayette, he continued to donate his time to high school programs in the Easton area teaching young folks how to read & write. After he retired Coach Lawson continued to Volunteer his time as an assistant coach for the next 8 years, which speaks volumes with regard to how much he loved coaching kids the game of lacrosse and the bigger picture of life long skills. The Bill Lawson award goes to someone who, in his image, has given the greatest service to Lafayette over this past year or past several years.
Sponsor: Harvey Cohen '40
Presenter: Patrick Myers, Head Coach
Winner: Ted Blackburn '02
 

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