Men's Lacrosse 4/30/2025 3:00:00 PM

Amend named Rookie of the Year, Eight earn America East honors

BOSTON- Bryant University men's lacrosse freshman Zac Amend was named America East Rookie of the Year and eight Bulldogs earned All-America East honors, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The Rye, New Hampshire native is in the midst of an incredible first season in Smithfield. Amend tallied 30 points (22g, 8a), 21 ground balls, and six caused turnovers in the regular season and was a three time America East's Rookie of the Week recipient. The first year midfielder did the majority of his damage against conference opponents, averaging 2.5 goals in league games. Amend's outstanding freshman campaign also landed him a spot on the All-America East Second Team and All-Rookie Team.

Amend burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs in 2025, recording four points (2g, 2a) in just his second game on Feb. 15 at Merrimack. He recorded his first career hat trick a month later on Mar. 15 at home against the UAlbany Great Danes, helping lead Bryant to a fourth quarter comeback victory. The following weekend at Vermont, Amend had a career day, finishing with six points (3g, 3a). Amend tallied his third consecutive hat trick in Bryant's home win over UMBC on Mar. 29. Amend finished the day with four points (3g, 1a) on four shots. After potting a pair of goals at NJIT on Apr. 5, Amend registered his fourth hat trick of the year, with three goals, against Bucknell on Apr. 12. In the Bulldogs' regular-season home finale against Binghamton, Amend finished with three goals and also scooped three ground balls. Amend concluded the 2025 regular season with four hat tricks and seven multi-goal games. He recorded at least two points and one goal in each America East contest.

Amend is the second player in program history to be named America East Rookie of the Year. Johnny Hackett last took home the honor back in 2023. Amend is the seventh conference Rookie of the Year in Division I history and the ninth all-time.

Drew Lucas earns a First Team All-America East selection for the second straight season. Through 13 games so far this season, Lucas has posted 37 ground balls and leads the team with 22 caused turnovers. Lucas has also showcased his skills on the offensive side of the ball, tallying eight points (2g, 6a). He was named the America East Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2025, on Mar. 3 and Apr. 5. Lucas is second all-time in Division I history for caused turnovers with 82. He enters Thursday night just three CTs away from tying Matt Murnane's (2009-10) Division I program record of 85. Lucas has been named to an all-conference selection in each of his four years in Smithfield. In addition to first team nods in 2025 and 2024, he was an All-America East Second Team selection in 2023 and an NEC All-Rookie Team member in 2022.

John Tomsheck makes his first all-conference team in his junior season, being named First Team All-America East. The midfielder had a breakout year in 2025, posting 27 points (12g, 15a), 14 ground balls, and two caused turnovers during the regular season. Tomsheck's best performance of the season came during the team's neutral-site bout with Bucknell during the 2025 Dalers Lacrosse Classic on Long Island. Tomsheck finished the game with six points (4g, 2a) and scored the game-winning goal, helping the Bulldogs to a 16-14 victory.

Brian Russell takes home his second conference honor this week with an All-America East Second Team selection on Wednesday. Russell was just named the league's Offensive Player of the Week on Apr. 28 after a six-point (4g, 2a) outing at UMass Lowell last Saturday. In his first regular season in Smithfield, Russell led the team in scoring with 45 points (20g, 25a), while also scooping 20 ground balls and causing three turnovers. Entering the weekend, Russell is second in the conference in both points per game (3.46) and assists per game (1.92).

Luke Mead is the third Bulldog named to the All-America East second team and is the second member of Bryant's defense to be named to an all-conference team. Mead recorded 25 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers in the Black and Gold's 13 regular season contests. Mead set a career high for CT's with three against St. John's on Mar. 8 and matched it a week later against UAlbany on Mar. 15 helping the Bulldogs to their first conference win of the year. He also tied his career for ground balls against Merrimack on Feb. 15 where he scooped five. Mead is currently ninth in the America East in caused turnovers per game, averaging 1.15. This is Mead's first all-conference selection.

Owen West makes the America East All-Rookie Team after a remarkable freshman campaign for Bryant. During the regular season, West posted 18 points (11g, 7a) while also scooping seven ground balls and causing one turnover. West would be named the America East Rookie of the Week on Apr. 7 after scoring a career-high six points (3g, 3a) to lead the Bulldogs to victory over NJIT.

Luca Elmaleh was selected to the conference All-Rookie team following a tremendous debut season donning the Black and Gold. Elmaleh started in nine of his 12 appearances with the Bulldogs, registering 15 points (10g, 5a). He recorded his first career hat trick in Bryant's conference opener over UAlbany on Mar. 15, playing an instrumental role in the team's come from behind victory.

Rounding out the list of award winners is Dawson Rielly, who secured a spot for himself on the America East All-Academic Team. Rielly currently holds a 3.97 GPA as a double major in Managerial Accounting and Finance. The sophomore attackman has been equally as strong on the field and in the classroom this year. After an All-Rookie selection last season, Rielly has turned himself into the focal point of the Black and Gold's offense. He leads the team with 37 goals and has 42 total points (37g, 5a) on the season. He has also scooped 19 ground balls and has a pair of caused turnovers. Rielly leads the conference and is 20th in the nation in goals per game, averaging 2.85. He is also first in the league and 12th in the NCAA in individual man-up goals with six.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Johnny Hackett: Midfield; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#30 Drew Lucas: Defense; 6' 0"; Senior

#99 Luke Mead: Defense; 6' 3"; Junior

#16 Dawson Rielly: Attack; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#4 John Tomsheck: Midfield; 6' 0"; Junior

#7 Owen West: Attack; 6' 2"; Freshman

#8 Brian Russell: Attack; 6' 0"; Senior

#10 Zac Amend: Midfield; 6' 0"; Freshman

#21 Luca Elmaleh: Midfield; 6' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#22 Johnny Hackett
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: Midfield

#30 Drew Lucas
: 6' 0"; Senior
: Defense

#99 Luke Mead
: 6' 3"; Junior
: Defense

#16 Dawson Rielly
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: Attack

#4 John Tomsheck
: 6' 0"; Junior
: Midfield

#7 Owen West
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: Attack

#8 Brian Russell
: 6' 0"; Senior
: Attack

#10 Zac Amend
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: Midfield

#21 Luca Elmaleh
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: Midfield

Bryant University

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Amend named Rookie of the Year, Eight earn America East honors

Players Mentioned

#22 Johnny Hackett

#30 Drew Lucas

#99 Luke Mead

#16 Dawson Rielly

#4 John Tomsheck

#7 Owen West

#8 Brian Russell

#10 Zac Amend

#21 Luca Elmaleh

Players Mentioned

#22 Johnny Hackett

#30 Drew Lucas

#99 Luke Mead

#16 Dawson Rielly

#4 John Tomsheck

#7 Owen West

#8 Brian Russell

#10 Zac Amend

#21 Luca Elmaleh