Andrew Cook Named 2024 USA Lacrosse D-III Men's Preseason Player of the Year

Christopher Newport midfielder Andrew Cook is the USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Preseason Player of the Year, USA Lacrosse Magazine announced Thursday. Cook also secured Preseason Midfielder of the Year honors.

Cook, a graduate student from Mechanicsville, Va., about 70 miles from Christopher Newport, was one of three Division III players to earn a spot on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List last season.

“[Cook is] deceptively smooth,” Captains head coach Mikey Thompson said. “The way that he moves — he protects the stick really well, and he uses his wide frame to protect his stick. He can release the ball from multiple locations, and just how quickly he can get a shot off when he knows the slide is coming. He uses his wrist really well to generate speed on his shot. And I would definitely say that he has that unique combination of speed, power and fluidity in his game.” 

With Cook at the wheel, Christopher Newport earned a No. 2 ranking in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20, behind only defending national champion Salisbury.

Continue below to see the three other players with preseason positional recognition.

PRESEASON ATTACKMAN OF THE YEAR

Luke Pilcher, RIT

A Canadian attackman from RIT who has flirted with the 100-point mark the last two seasons, Pilcher is the most on-brand RIT attackman ever. He’s a stat nerd’s dream. He scores goals so quickly that announcers can’t even keep up with his tallies. He’s often tabbed as a pure finisher, but he’s a much more complete player than he gets credit for. 

PRESEASON MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

Andrew Cook, Christopher Newport

Cook is also the Preseason Player of the Year because he is the most destructive offensive weapon in any team’s arsenal. With 95 points last spring, Cook is primed for even bigger numbers this year. There are a handful of middies who will be eager to challenge him for this honor in the spring, but few will be able to match Cook’s combination of power and guile.

PRESEASON DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR

Michael Grace, RIT

RIT defenders are often a cut above most of their counterparts because they are tough and have silky handles. Top defenders don’t always put up gaudy stat lines, but Grace finished with 14 points, 67 ground balls and 35 caused turnovers. He is a cement mixer given human form, backing attackmen into corners and covering them in quick-dry concrete; he’s an action figure who plays lacrosse.

PRESEASON GOALIE OF THE YEAR

Dan Donahue, Union

Often you hear goalies talked about in terms of shot stopping, commanding a defense or throwing pinpoint outlets. Donahue is one of the best all-around goalies in college lacrosse, and he’s in the top three of all of those aspects. Last year, he backstopped a Union team that went to the third round of the playoffs and made double-digit saves in every game but two.