Men’s Lacrosse: LaSalla, Moore, Shellenberger named to Tewaaraton list

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia men’s lacrosse players Petey LaSalla, Matt Moore and Connor Shellenberger were named to the Tewaaraton Watch List.

The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation.

LaSalla was one of the nation’s best faceoff specialists in 2021. He was named a Second Team Preseason All-American according to the USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine. LaSalla, who has won 577 career faceoffs, is just 28 faceoff wins away from becoming Virginia’s all-time record holder in total faceoff wins. In 2021, LaSalla led the nation in faceoff wins and broke UVA’s single-season record with 277 victories at the faceoff-X. Last season, LaSalla was named a Second Team All-American by the USILA and Inside Lacrosse.

Moore, a Second Team Preseason All-American according the USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine, finished the 2021 season 10th in the nation in points (67) and became just the fifth Cavalier all-time to register at least 100 goals and 100 assists in a career. Moore scored 33 goals and dished out 34 assists on the season to finish second on the team in points. His eight NCAA Tournament goals, including five in the national championship showdown against Maryland, earned him NCAA All-Tournament honors. Moore (118 goals, 111 assists) is currently 41 points away from passing former UVA standout Steele Stanwick as the program’s all-time career point leader.

Shelleneberger swept First Team Preseason All-American honors according to the USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine. He was also named to Inside Lacrosse’s Tewaaraton Top 10 Watch List earlier this season. In 2021, Shellenberger was crowned the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament after tying for a tournament-high 24 points on 14 goals and a tournament-best 10 assists. His 24 points during UVA’s national championship run were a program best in a single NCAA tournament. Shellenberger finished the season fourth in the nation in total points (79) and assists (42), both of which were also UVA freshman records. Shellenberger also registered at least one point in all 18 games and tallied at least two assists in 13 games.

Players not named to this initial list will have opportunities to play their way into a spot as the season progresses. Watch list additions will be announced on March 11 and April 1, before the field will be narrowed to 25 men’s and 25 women’s nominees on April 21. Nominees can be players from the watch lists or not from the watch lists, effectively allowing for a third round of additions.

Five men’s and five women’s finalists will be announced in early May. The Tewaaraton Award recipients will be chosen after the conclusion of the collegiate lacrosse season.

For more information on the Tewaaraton Foundation, visit tewaaraton.com. Like and follow The Tewaaraton Foundation at facebook.com/tewaaraton, twitter.com/tewaaraton and instagram.com/tewaaraton.

Virginia hosts High Point (0-1) in its second regular-season contest on Sunday (Feb. 13). Opening faceoff from Klöckner Stadium is set for 3 p.m. and will broadcast on ACCNX.