In the three days since the NCAA Division I Council upheld the recommendation to provide eligibility relief to spring sports athletes whose seasons were cut short due to the COVID-19  outbreak, several notable men’s lacrosse players have declared their intent to return to their current teams as fifth-year seniors.

Ohio State’s Ryan Terefenko and Tre Leclaire both announced Wednesday on Instagram that they were coming back, as did Georgetown’s Jake Carraway, who had previously stated his intent to do so if allowable.

On Thursday, Hofstra announced that Ryan Tierney, son of head coach and Team USA assistant Seth Tierney, will be back in Hempstead for a fifth season.

This after The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil reported Monday that Princeton’s Michael Sowers, the presumptive Tewaaraton Award favorite this season, was withdrawing from the university so that he could return in 2021. Ivy League rules do not currently allow graduate students to compete in athletics, with some student-athletes waiting to see if the conference relaxes the rule due to the unprecedented nature of the cancellation.

Sowers, a three-time All-American and Princeton’s all-time leading scorer, was on pace to break Lyle Thompson’s NCAA single-season record with 47 points in just five games.

Terefenko, also a three-time All-American, is considered the best short-stick defensive midfielder in college lacrosse. In seven games, he led Ohio State with 30 ground balls while also contributing on offense with two goals and four assists.

 

 

 

 

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Feeling Incredibly grateful to announce that I’ll be coming back to Ohio State next fall. Cannot thank the Atheltic Department and Mr. Gene Smith enough for supporting their student athletes as well as they do. Been a long and weird two weeks. But excited to re-shift my focus back to leading and supporting my brothers. Let’s get to work. #runitback #reallyoldDog

A post shared by Ryan Terefenko (@ryanterefenko) on Apr 1, 2020 at 1:15pm PDT

Leclaire, yet another three-time All-American, paced the Buckeyes with 26 goals.

 

 

 

 

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Would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Mr. Gene Smith, the Athletic Department and Coach Myers for their unwavering loyalty and display of support towards their student-athletes. Words cannot describe this feeling, I am extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to continue my education and pursue my dream alongside my brothers one last time. #UnfinishedBusiness #staysafe

A post shared by Tre Leclaire (@treleclaire) on Apr 1, 2020 at 2:56pm PDT

Tierney, a first-team All-CAA attackman, was on track for an All-American campaign as a senior. Media voted him as an honorable mention pick on Inside Lacrosse’s Maverik All-American list. He was averaging five points per game with 21 goals and 14 assists in seven contests. He ranks third all-time at Hofstra with 121 career goals and fifth all-time with 186 career points.

MLAX: #Hofstra's Ryan Tierney To Return In 2020-21 - https://t.co/7D2R1aVggL#RoarWithPride | #HofstraStrong pic.twitter.com/Gp10OzsAqu

— Hofstra Men's Lacrosse (@HofstraMLAX) April 2, 2020

In an interview with US Lacrosse Magazine earlier this week, Seth Tierney joked about how awkward it would be if his son told him he wanted to use his additional eligibility elsewhere.

“I checked the transfer portal this morning to make sure Ryan Tierney wasn’t on it,” he said. “I’m getting some serious stares from Ryan and his mother at times.”

More such announcements could be on the way.  Penn State coach Jeff Tambroni indicated Wednesday that All-American attackman Mac O’Keefe and All-American defenseman Nick Cardile, both seniors, have expressed interest in returning to Happy Valley.