SPARKS, Md. – Saint Joseph's senior defenseman Levi Verch was named Third Team Preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse, the organization announced on Wednesday morning.
 
The nod was the fourth USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American selection in the last four years, joining Levi Anderson (2024) and Zach Cole (2022, 2023).
 
An All-American honorable mention last season by USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse, Verch comes off a junior season in which the Victoria, British Columbia native caused 29 turnovers and picked up 80 ground balls on the season to earn Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Verch led the conference with 1.81 caused turnovers per game to rank 16^th in the country, finishing the season as one of just six non-faceoff specialists to average five ground balls per game.
 
The 29 caused turnovers was second-most in program history, falling one shy of matching the school record set by Will Farrell in 2014. The Canadian enters the season ranked eighth in program history with 41 caused turnovers on his career.
 
St. Joe's opens the season on February 8, hosting Sacred Heart on Sweeney Field in a 12 p.m. matchup.