Conners, Aitken, Bertrand drafted in the 2021 PLL Draft

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia Cavaliers had three players drafted in the 2021 Premier League Lacrosse Draft. Long-stick midfielder Jared Conners was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Archers Lacrosse Club. Midfielder Dox Aitken was also drafted in the first round, eighth overall, by the Atlas Lacrosse Club. Attackman Charlie Bertrand also was selected on Monday night in the third round, 24th overall, by the Redwoods Lacrosse Club.

Virginia is the only school with at least one first round selection in each of the first three PLL Drafts. They also have the most first round picks in PLL history with four. UVA’s 25 professional lacrosse first round draft picks are also the most of any school in the nation. UVA’s 61 overall professional lacrosse draft picks is No. 3 among all colleges.

Conners (Pittsford, N.Y.) is a two time captain and currently leads the nation’s LSMs with 70 ground balls. He also has 19 caused turnovers. Conners has 32 career points on 18 goals and 14 assists. He also has 263 career ground balls and 77 caused turnovers. His 263 career ground balls rank No. 9 all-time at UVA.

Aitken (Villanova, Pa.) is a two-time first-team All-American. His 136 career goals and 172 career points are both UVA records for a midfielder. His 44 goals and 52 points in 2019 are UVA single-season records for a midfielder. He currently has 15 goals and four assists so far in 2021. Aitken’s 136 career goals are currently tied for No. 6 all-time in program history. He shares the spot with Ben Rubeor who will be his coach with the Atlas. Rubeor, like Aitken, wore No. 6 at UVA (2005-08).

Bertrand (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) is a two-time DII National Player of the Year while leading Merrimack to the 2018 and 2019 NCAA DII titles. The 2021 season is Bertrand’s only one at UVA where he currently has 22 goals and eight assists. Holds the collegiate record with a 65-game goal scoring streak that was snapped earlier this season. He is one of four current DI players with 300+ career points and one of two current DI players with 200+ goals.