Navy’s Jackson Bonitz (Jr / D / Shrewsbury, Pa.) and Patrick Skalniak (Sr / M / Dallas, Texas) have been named Third-Team Preseason All-Americans by USA Lacrosse Magazine it was announced on Tuesday. The publication identified 76 players overall as Preseason All-Americans that were split into 13-player first-, second- and third-team squads as well as honorable mentions.
Bonitz, who concluded the 2022 campaign by receive All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse Magazine (Third Team), Inside Lacrosse (Honorable Mention) and the USILA (Honorable Mention), helped spearhead an exceptionally young defensive unit as the lone returning starter among the entire defense (close defense, long-stick midfield, short-stick defensive midfield, goalkeeper). The Mids finished the 2022 season ranked #12 nationally and #2 in the Patriot League in scoring defense, allowing 10.13 goals per game. Navy held 6 of its 15 opponents to single digits, earning victories in each of the six. Navy’s defense held three-consecutive opponents to 6 or fewer goals (5 by Mercer, 6 by Hofstra, 6 by Manhattan), marking the first time the Mids have achieved that mark since holding six-straight foes to 5 or fewer goals in 2008. Bonitz led the team with 18 caused turnovers which tied for the 10th most in program history, while his 28-career takeaways is the13th-best mark on the…
