SPARKS, Md. -- Seven members of the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team earned Preseason All-Americans honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine as Mason Bellinger, Mark Davison, and Kevin Miller secured first-team accolades, Jamie Smith was a second-team selection, and Colin DeGrassi, Rory Keverline, and Daniel Siaton brought home honorable mention citations.

The seven honorees marked the most in program history and matched Salisbury for the highest total in the nation. Meanwhile, the three first-team selections equaled Salisbury and Tufts for the most in the country. 

Miller was recognized by the publication for the second straight year after receiving honorable mention plaudits last spring. The other six Captains earned the honor for the first time.

Entering his senior season, Bellinger is coming off a junior campaign during which he earned third-team All-American honors along with first-team All-Conference, All-State, and All-Region nods. Last year, he ranked 16th in the NCAA with 241 saves while boasting a 10.19 goals-against-average and .555 save percentage. A force between the pipes, he pocketed at least 10 saves on 13 occasions, including all five postseason tilts. He also hauled in 65 ground balls and produced five points. Both of those totals marked the most by a goalie in program history.

A staple on the back line during his first two years with the Captains, Davison enters his junior season as a reigning All-American. During his sophomore campaign, he posted 32 caused turnovers, which placed him sixth in the league and 12th on the program's all-time single-season charts. He forced at least one miscue in 14 of his outings, including seven strips against John Carroll on March 5. That equaled the eighth-highest total in school history. Later in the year, he added six more takeaways during a top-10 showdown with No. 1 Tufts on March 20.  

Just as dominant on the back line, DeGrassi adds even more veteran leadership to the defensive unit while entering his final collegiate campaign. An All-American in 2025, he started all 22 games while ranking eighth in the league with 30 caused turnovers. That also placed him 18th on the program's all-time leaderboard. A consistent contributor, he notched at least one takeaway in 19 of his appearances while collecting two or more on eight occasions. A postseason star, he had eight takeaways in the playoffs, including four against Kean in the league semifinals on April 30.

One of the program's top short-stick specialists, Keverline quickly established himself as one of the squad's finest defensive midfielders during his first year with the Captains. After spending his first three collegiate campaigns at Merrimack, he made a smooth transition to CNU. During the 2025 season, he forced 10 turnovers, including two in back-to-back bouts against Williams on March 26 and Montclair State on March 29. He also added a takeaway in both battles with No. 2 Salisbury during the year, including one in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Championship on May 4.

Piecing together one of the most remarkable campaigns in Christopher Newport history, Miller was a consensus All-American during his sophomore season in 2025. Establishing himself as one of the country's leading playmakers, he set new records and ranked first in the nation with 81 assists and 115 total points. His 81 helpers also marked the 11th-most by any player in collegiate lacrosse history. Carving up the opposition, he posted at least one assist in all 22 games, marking the longest streak by a Captain. Just as effective as a finisher, he ranked ninth in the league with 34 goals.

A key cog on the midfield unit, Siaton has solidified his spot as one of the program's elite short-stick specialists over the past three years. Appearing in all 22 games during his junior season, he made an impact all over the field. On the defensive side, he stood among the team-leaders with 34 ground balls, including four in the league championship against No. 2 Salisbury on May 4. Meanwhile, he starred in transition and helped the Captains rank 20th in the country with a stellar .878 clearing percentage. Helping out on the offensive end as well, he produced nine points, including four goals.

One of the nation's most prolific scorers, Smith lit up the competition while hauling in All-American accolades for his work during a lethal junior season. Last spring, he led the NCAA with 84 goals, which set a new school record and ranked 20th in the history of collegiate lacrosse. He also slotted first in the nation with 13 man-up goals while boasting a league-best .384 shooting percentage. Scoring in bunches, he had at least two strikes in 21 of his appearances, including 19 hat-tricks. Those outbursts included an eight-goal eruption against Hampden-Sydney on February 8.

Christopher Newport will kick off the 2026 campaign on Saturday when the Captains host Elizabethtown at noon.

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