PHILADELPHIA – Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse player Zach Cole received recognition to the USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American Team on Tuesday afternoon, the organization announcing the fifth-year face-off specialist to second team honors.
 

Congratulations to our guy Zach Cole on being named a USA Lacrosse Preseason Second Team All American! #THWND pic.twitter.com/qNjD3f5ufY
— Saint Joseph's Men's Lacrosse (@SJUHawks_MLax) January 10, 2023
 

 

With the season nearly a month away, Cole returns after a successful 2022 season that lauded him with three different All-American accolades. The 44^th pick in the NLL Draft this past fall secured USILA Second Team, Inside Lacrosse Media and USA Lacrosse All-American honors, earning first team plaudits on the latter of the three.
 
Cole comes off a season in which he repeated as the NEC Player of the Year, also earning First Team All-Conference and All-Championshio Team honors. The Mount Laurel, N.J. native led the nation in face-off winning percentage (.681) and ground balls per game (11.24). His 26-of-26 performance from the dot against Wagner was the sixth-best performance in Division I history.
 
Cole and Co. open the season on February 11, hosting Sacred Heart in the 2023 opener at Sweeney Field.