GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina graduate attackman Chris Gray was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, while Virginia claimed the other three season honors as the 2022 ACC Men’s Lacrosse season awards and All-ACC Team were announced Thursday by the conference office.
The All-ACC Team and award winners were determined by a vote of the league’s five head coaches.
Virginia sophomore defenseman Cole Kastner was voted ACC Defensive Player of the Year, while UVa goalie Matthew Nunes was selected ACC Freshman of the Year. Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany was voted ACC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career (2019).
Duke and Virginia led all schools with five All-ACC honorees apiece. Notre Dame placed four on the team, while North Carolina and Syracuse each had two honorees.
Ten of the 18 All-ACC honorees also earned the recognition last season, including Virginia graduate attackman Matt Moore claimed All-ACC honors for the third straight season. Five All-ACC selections were picked Tuesday in the Premier Lacrosse League Draft: Gray (second overall), Duke’s Arden Cohen (third), Virginia’s Matt Moore (fourth), Syracuse’s Brendan Curry (13th) and Duke’s Nakeie Montgomery (19th).
Gray leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally this season in goals per game (3.43) and points per game (5.71). He owns 48 goals and 32 assists for 80 total points in 2022. After collecting six points in his final college game against Duke, Gray now holds the NCAA Division I career points record with 401. He finished second all-time at UNC in career points (219), fourth in career goals (124), and fourth in career assists (95). Gray is one of 25 nominees for the 2022 Tewaaraton Award.
Kastner ranks seventh nationally and first in the ACC in caused turnovers per game with 2.0 per game. He is the first Cavalier to earn ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors since the award was established in 2012. Kastner is one of 25 nominees for the 2022 Tewaaraton Award, but one of only three defensemen who have been nominated for college lacrosse’s top honor.
Nunes is having one of the best freshman campaigns ever for a Virginia goalie. In 13 games, he has amassed 132 saves and an 11.12 goals against average. His 132 saves are the fifth most by a UVa rookie goalie. Nunes has been selected the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
Tiffany led Virginia to a share of the 2022 ACC title, the Cavaliers’ second in his tenure (2019). UVa posted a 11-3 record in the regular season, including a 5-1 mark in the ACC, while earning its fourth straight bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers are the two-time reigning NCAA champions and open postseason play Saturday at No. 8 seed Brown.
2022 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year – Chris Gray, Gr., A, North Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year – Cole Kastner, So., D, Virginia
Freshman of the Year – Matthew Nunes, G, Virginia
Coach of the Year – Lars Tiffany, Virginia
2022 Men’s Lacrosse All-ACC Team
A – Chris Gray, Gr., North Carolina
A – Connor Shellenberger, So., Virginia
A – Pat Kavanagh, Jr., Notre Dame
A – Brennan O’Neill, So., Duke
A – Tucker Dordevic, Jr., Syracuse
A – Matt Moore, Gr., Virginia
M – Brendan Curry, Gr., Syracuse
M – Eric Dobson, So., Notre Dame
M – Jeff Conner, Sr., Virginia
M – Nakeie Montgomery, Gr., Duke
D – Arden Cohen, Gr., Notre Dame
D – Kenny Brower, Jr., Duke
D – Cole Kastner, So., Virginia
FO – Petey LaSalla, Sr., Virginia
SSM – Connor Maher, Sr., North Carolina
LSM – Tyler Carpenter, Jr., Duke
G – Liam Entenmann, So., Notre Dame
G – Mike Adler, Gr., Duke