USA Lacrosse Magazine announced Tuesday its Division I Men’s Preseason Positional Players of the Year, honoring the best of the best at each position ahead of the upcoming 2022 spring season.

Five athletes earned preseason positional recognition — one attackman, one midfielder, one defenseman, one goalie and one specialist. This one day after the Division I Men’s Preseason All-Americans were announced.

Stay tuned Wednesday for the reveal of the Division I Men’s Preseason Player of the Year.

PRESEASON ATTACKMAN OF THE YEAR
CHRIS GRAY, NORTH CAROLINA

Gray was the ACC’s offensive player of the year and a Tewaaraton finalist in 2021, setting a Tar Heel record with 91 points (49 goals, 42 assists) and largely doing as he pleased for a team that landed the No. 1 seed. North Carolina took some steep (and belated) graduation hits, meaning Gray might somehow become an even more pivotal figure. He’s galvanized the Tar Heels since arriving from Boston University, leading them to a 20-3 record over the last two seasons. A Tewaaraton Award could be in his future this spring.

PRESEASON MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
JACK HANNAH, DENVER

The ultra-competitive Hannah was one of the top midfielders in the country the last two seasons. It’s possible he’s the clear-cut best this spring. In the truncated 2020 season, he posted 17 goals and 10 assists in six games. Last year, he piled up 37 goals and 10 assists to earn the Big East’s midfielder of the year honor. The 6-foot-1 Ohioan will receive even more scrutiny from opposing defenses with the departures of Jackson Morrill and Ethan Walker, but his consistency and toughness — hallmarks of the Pioneers’ program — set him up for a stellar fifth year in the Mile High City.

PRESEASON DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
WILL BOWEN, GEORGETOWN

Hoyas coach Kevin Warne memorably described Virginia’s close defense as “velociraptors” after an NCAA quarterfinal loss to the Cavaliers. Georgetown now has a similar rangy, defensive ace in Bowen, the 6-3, 220-pound North Carolina graduate transfer who earned a first-team All-America nod last season. Bowen has played on Memorial Day weekend and immediately strengthens an already stout Hoya defense.

PRESEASON GOALIE OF THE YEAR
OWEN MCELROY, GEORGETOWN

Last year’s Kelly Award winner and a first team All-America pick, McElroy heads into his fourth year as a starter and is the most consistent goalie in Division I over the last two seasons. Georgetown’s team scheme — and the presence of Will Bowen and Gibson Smith — surely help McElroy, but he’s had some stellar moments with the Hoyas. Perhaps the best of the bunch: Snaring a combined 32 saves in two games to earn most outstanding player honors in the 2021 Big East tournament.

PRESEASON SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
MIKE SISSELBERGER, LEHIGH

An easy call. Sisselberger set the Division I record for faceoff percentage in a season at 79.5 percent, as the Mountain Hawks returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013. He also finished with double-digit ground balls in all but one game, collecting 160 on the season. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Sisselberger’s efforts will make Lehigh a handful simply because of the possession advantage he provides.