Louisville, Ky. – Seniors
Luke Lesizza &
Matthew Pergola, junior
Luke Cifuentes, and sophomore
Hudson Rocheville have all been named preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse, as well as the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).
Lesizza was a Third Team member of both organizations, while Pergola, Rocheville, and Cifuentes were all Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention selections.
Lesizza adds a third 3
rd Team honor to his Preseason All-America tally (USA Lacrosse). The two-time reigning MAC Freedom Defenseman of the Year has been a force from his first game as a Duck averaging more than 2.5 ground balls and just under two caused turnover per game for his Stevens career. Last season, he collected three ground balls or more in seven games, and strung together seven consecutive games in which he caused at least two turnovers.
Pergola has been every bit the offensive force that Lesizza has been defensively since 2023. MAC Freedom Attackman of the Year every season he's been a Duck, Pergola has scored in 59 of 61 games during his Stevens career, including multiple goals in 51 of those contests, and at least five goals on 10 different occasions, including last season's MAC Freedom Semifinal and the 2023 MAC Freedom Championship Game.
Twice an All-MAC Freedom First Team selection, Cifuentes has helped form a stout backline with Lesizza the last two seasons, causing 30 turnovers in 40 appearances, collecting 67 ground balls. Last year, during a three-game stretch against Maritime, Messiah, and Oneonta, Cifuentes averaged more than four ground balls and nearly three caused turnovers, part of a stretch in which Cifuentes collected 33 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers in 14 games.
Rocheville did not start any of his 17 appearances last season and recorded no goals, assists, ground balls, or caused turnovers in his first six appearances, but was a strong two-way piece late in the year for the Ducks. The Livingston, N.J. native scored twice, assisted on two more goals, collected 11 ground balls, and caused 11 turnovers over his final 11 outings, including a pair of performances with at least two ground balls AND two caused turnovers.
Stevens opens the 2026 season this Saturday at home against Dickinson College, last season's national runner-up, at 2:00 PM.
#AllRise
