University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Claims Five Major A-10 Awards, Well Represented Across All-Conference Teams
04/29/2026 | Men's Lacrosse
Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond men's lacrosse team was once again well represented in the Atlantic 10's postseason awards and all-conference selections. In total, 11 Spiders earned recognition, including a conference-best seven First Team selections and three Second Team honorees. Richmond also claimed five of the league's six major awards.
Attackman Aidan O'Neil was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, while close defenseman Hunter Smith repeated as Defensive Player of the Year. Midfielder Joe Sheridan earned Midfielder of the Year honors, marking back-to-back seasons a Spider has received the award. Faceoff specialist Vincent Gaylord was selected as Rookie of the Year, becoming Richmond's first recipient since O'Neil in 2023. Head coach Dan Chemotti was named Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
Richmond's seven First Team selections were the most of any program, with High Point, UMass, and Saint Joseph's next with two apiece. First Team honorees included midfielder Gavin Creo, attackman Lucas Littlejohn, long-stick midfielder Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson, short-stick defensive midfielder Jack Pilling, along with Sheridan, Smith, and O'Neil.
Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selections included Gaylord, defenseman Michael Farrell, and goalkeeper Connor Knight. Gaylord also earned All-Rookie Team honors, while Creo, Penafeather-Stevenson, and Sheridan were named to the All-Academic Team, tying Richmond with Saint Joseph's for the most selections.
Chemotti's Coach of the Year honor follows a program-best 12-1 regular season. The Spiders completed an undefeated Atlantic 10 schedule for the second consecutive year and reached the program's first-ever No. 1 national ranking.
Richmond enters the postseason ranked No. 3 nationally and ranks among the country's top teams on both ends of the field. The Spiders lead the nation in points per game (25.69), scoring offense (16.38), shot percentage (35.5%), scoring margin (+8.08), and winning percentage (92.3%). Richmond also ranks second in assists per game (9.31), fourth in both caused turnovers per game (10.77) and scoring defense (8.31), fifth in clearing percentage (91.3%), and seventh in ground balls per game (35.62).
First Team All-Atlantic 10
Aidan O'Neil | Attack | Senior | Centerville, Mass.
O'Neil has started every game of his career, including all 13 this season, totaling a career-best 30 goals and 38 assists for 68 points, along with 17 ground balls and five caused turnovers. He leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks third nationally in assists per game (2.92), while also leading the conference and ranking second nationally in points per game (5.23). He has recorded five or more points in nine games and ranks third in the conference in goals per game (2.31). His honors include multiple preseason All-America selections, a Top 25 Tewaaraton nomination, three Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week awards, and Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America First Team recognition.
Hunter Smith | Defense | Senior | Rochester, N.Y.
Smith has played in 11 games, recording 24 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers, along with one goal. He ranks 13th nationally and fourth in the Atlantic 10 in caused turnovers per game (2.09). His honors include multiple preseason All-America selections, a Top 25 Tewaaraton nomination, USILA Team of the Week recognition, and Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America First Team honors. He was also selected 10th overall in the PLL College Draft by the Boston Cannons.
Joe Sheridan | Midfield | Senior | West Chester, Pa.
Sheridan has started all 13 games, totaling 25 goals and 10 assists for 35 points, along with nine ground balls and four caused turnovers. He ranks eighth in the conference in goals per game (1.92) and 12th in points per game (2.69). His honors include preseason All-America recognition, Tewaaraton Watch List inclusion, Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America First Team honors, and two Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week awards.
Jack Pilling | SSDM | Senior | Upper Dublin, Pa.
Pilling has appeared in all 13 games, recording 34 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers, while adding two goals and three assists. He ranks among the national leaders in caused turnovers among non-pole players. His honors include preseason All-America recognition, Tewaaraton Watch List inclusion, and Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America First Team honors.
Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson | LSM | Junior | Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Penafeather-Stevenson has played in all 13 games, tallying 43 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers, along with four goals and one assist. He ranks sixth in the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.23) and ninth in ground balls per game (3.31). He earned USILA Team of the Week honors and was named an Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America Honorable Mention.
Lucas Littlejohn | Attack | Junior | Courtice, Ontario
Littlejohn has started all 13 games and leads the Atlantic 10 while ranking ninth nationally in goals per game (3.00). He has recorded 39 goals and four assists for 43 points, along with 20 ground balls and five caused turnovers. He ranks third in the conference in points per game (3.31).
Gavin Creo | Midfield | Junior | Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Creo has started all 13 games, totaling 30 goals and 10 assists for 40 points, along with 16 ground balls. He ranks third in the conference in goals per game (2.31) and leads the Atlantic 10 while ranking 12th nationally in shooting percentage (45.5%).
Second Team All-Atlantic 10
Vincent Gaylord | Faceoff | Freshman | East Greenbush, N.Y.
Gaylord went 130-of-224 at the faceoff stripe (58.04%), ranking second in the Atlantic 10 and 20th nationally. He also ranks second in the conference and 15th nationally in ground balls per game (6.58), with 79 total ground balls. He added one goal and three assists.
Michael Farrell | Defense | Graduate | Manasquan, N.J.
Farrell has started all 13 games, recording 21 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers, along with one assist. His 15 caused turnovers are third-most on the team and rank seventh in the Atlantic 10 in caused turnovers per game (1.15).
Connor Knight | Goalie | Redshirt Junior | Dallas, Texas
Knight has started all 13 games, posting a 12-1 record with 127 saves and 110 goals allowed. He ranks 12th nationally and second in the Atlantic 10 in save percentage (.555), and leads the conference while ranking sixth nationally in goals-against average (8.20). He has also recorded 29 ground balls, six caused turnovers, and two assists.
