5 Syracuse players earn Inside Lacrosse 2026 All-American selections
Three SU players were named Inside Lacrosse All-Americans and two earned honorable mentions. Joey Spallina was the lone First Team selection. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
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Ahead of its NCAA Tournament matchup against Yale, Syracuse earned five selections on Inside Lacrosse’s 2026 All-Americans list, the magazine announced Saturday. The Orange had seven players on IL’s Preseason and Midseason All-American lists.
Joey Spallina was the Orange’s lone First Team selection, defender Riley Figueiras followed on the Second Team and Luke Rhoa found himself on the Third Team midfield. Defender Billy Dwan III and attack/midfielder Michael Leo were both Honorable Mentions.
After earning the top spot in Inside Lacrosse’s 2026 Preseason Top 50 Players list, Spallina cemented his place as one of the nation’s top attacks. He broke Mike Powell’s program points record in SU’s April 18 win over Colgate, restoring the legacy of Syracuse’s famed No. 22, and enters the NCAA Tournament with 30 goals and 75 points.
Spallina was named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award Tuesday, alongside Notre Dame defender Shawn Lyght, Cornell attack Willem Firth, North Carolina attack Owen Duffy and Princeton attack Nate Kabiri. He’s the lone attack with a First Team spot on IL’s Preseason, Midseason and Final All-American lists.
Figueiras had previously flown under the radar in SU’s defense, never earning an All-American spot before. But he’s elevated his game to a new level in 2026. Wearing SU’s equally distinguished No. 11, he became a defensive captain, leading the Orange with 25 caused turnovers and finishing second with 57 ground balls en route to a Second Team All-American nod.
With his Third Team selection, Rhoa is the final Syracuse player named to an All-American team. Despite coming off the bench during his first two seasons, Rhoa established himself as one of the nation’s best shooters. He burst into a starting role with 27 goals and 33 points in 2025, upping his production to 26 tallies and 35 points this season.
Though he entered the season slotting in next to Rhoa in Syracuse’s midfield, Leo’s flexibility led to a midseason move to attack. He currently has a career-high 53 points. Dwan joins him as an honorable mention, pitching in seven goals and 13 caused turnovers as a defender.
