Shellenberger, Moore, LaSalla named USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-Americans

Posted on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, 4:29 pm

Follow Jerry Ratcliffe on Twitter

Advertising inquiries: Connect with us

Email Jerry Ratcliffe: jratcliffe7000@gmail.com

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia men’s lacrosse players Connor Shellenberger (Charlottesville, Va.), Matt Moore (Garnet Valley, Pa.) and Petey LaSalla (Miller Place, N.Y.) have been named 2022 Preseason All-Americans, according to USA Lacrosse Magazine.

Shellenberger was named a First Team selection, while Moore and LaSalla were tabbed Second Team recipients.

In 2021, Shellenberger was named a First Team All-American by both USA Lacrosse Magazine and the USILA. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament after leading the reigning national champion Cavaliers in points (79) and assists (42), both of which were also good for fourth nationally and UVA freshman records. Shellenberger scored 14 goals and dished out 10 assists in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, a school record in points (24) in a single NCAA Tournament run. Shellenberger also registered at least one point in all 18 games and tallied at least two assists in 13 games.

Moore garnered USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American (Honorable Mention) accolades last season. Moore 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.

LaSalla was a Third Team All-American, according to USA Lacrosse Magazine in 2021. One of the nation’s best faceoff midfielders, LaSalla led the country with 277 faceoff wins, also a UVA single-season program record. He set another program record after finishing third in the nation with 137 ground balls. LaSalla’s 62.4 winning-percentage at the center X was good for 12th in the nation. Last season, he also became the first player in UVA history to tally five games with at least 20 faceoff wins in a single season, which is also a career record.