Spiders Headline Atlantic 10 Postseason Awards Following Historic Regular Season
04/30/2025 | Men's Lacrosse
Washington – Following a record-setting regular season that featured its first-ever four wins over ranked opponents, the program's first undefeated Atlantic 10 slate, and a climb to No. 9 in the national polls—the highest ranking in program history—the University of Richmond men's lacrosse team claimed five of the six Atlantic 10 postseason major awards. Aidan O'Neil (Offensive Player of the Year), Max Merklinger (Midfielder of the Year), Zach Vigue (Goalie of the Year), Hunter Smith (Co-Defensive Player of the Year), and Dan Chemotti (Coach of the Year) all earned top honors, while the Spiders placed 10 players on All-Conference teams.
Head Coach Dan Chemotti was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year after guiding the Spiders to an 11–3 overall record and a perfect 5–0 mark in league play—Richmond's first unblemished run through A-10 competition to earn the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament. The Spiders defeated four nationally ranked teams during the season—No. 7 Virginia, No. 13 Georgetown, No. 19 UMass, and No. 17 Saint Joseph's—setting a new program record for top-20 victories in a single season. Under Chemotti, Richmond's statistical dominance is among the best in the country. Richmond ranks third nationally in scoring defense (7.86 goals allowed per game), clearing percentage (.910), and caused turnovers per game (11.36). Offensively, the team averaged 13.64 goals per game, ranking 10th nationally and first in the A-10. Richmond also led the conference in points per game (21.43), posted a +5.79 scoring margin (third in the NCAA), and finished with a .786 winning percentage—the best in the A-10 and eighth nationally, while only one of Richmond's three losses this season came by more than a single goal.
Goalie Zach Vigue repeated as Atlantic 10 Goalie of the Year after anchoring the conference's top-ranked defense. Vigue started all 14 games, making 114 saves (8.14 per game) while posting a league-best goals-against average of 7.85. His .518 save percentage ranked fourth in the A-10, and he added 39 ground balls, eight caused turnovers, and one assist. A Preseason All-A-10 selection, Vigue was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week twice (Feb. 10, Feb. 17) and was included on the Tewaaraton Watch List. Nationally, he ranks eighth among active NCAA leaders in career saves (573) and goals-against average (9.63), and fourth in minutes played (3,116). He also earned a spot on the A-10 All-Academic Team.
Aidan O'Neil was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year after a dynamic season in which he started all 14 games, tallying 25 goals (ninth in the A-10) and 18 assists (fourth) for a 3.07 points-per-game average (fifth). O'Neil recorded points in 13 of 14 contests, including 10 multi-point games. A Preseason All-A-10 pick, he earned A-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Feb. 3 and helped lead Richmond to a conference-best 13.64 goals per game, ranking 10th nationally in scoring offense.
Midfielder Max Merklinger capped an outstanding senior season by earning A-10 Midfielder of the Year honors. He started every game, scoring 23 goals and adding 15 assists (seventh in the A-10), along with 15 ground balls and one caused turnover. Merklinger posted six multi-goal games and 12 multi-point outings, highlighted by a five-goal performance against UMBC. He ranked 10th in the A-10 in points per game at 2.71.
This marks the third consecutive season Richmond has claimed both the Offensive and Midfielder of the Year honors—every year since the A-10 began sponsoring men's lacrosse. Dalton Young (Offensive) and Lance Madonna (Midfielder) were the back-to-back recipients in 2023 and 2024.
Defenseman Hunter Smith became the first Spider to earn A-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors, sharing the award with Saint Joseph's Levi Verch. Smith started all 14 games, finishing with 19 caused turnovers (fourth in the A-10), 22 ground balls, and one assist. He was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 3, selected as a Preseason All-A-10 performer, and earned Inside Lacrosse Second Team Midseason All-American recognition. Smith registered at least one caused turnover in 12 games and was instrumental in Richmond ranking third nationally and first in the A-10 in scoring defense, clearing percentage, and caused turnovers per game.
Three other Spiders earned First Team All-Conference recognition: Mitchell Dunham, Joe Sheridan, and Tommy Stull.
Dunham led the A-10 and ranked fourth nationally with 32 caused turnovers while adding 41 ground balls. He recorded a caused turnover in 13 games, with six multi-turnover performances, including five against both Georgetown and High Point. Dunham was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week twice (March 24 and April 14).
Sheridan started all 14 games and finished with 24 goals and seven assists, along with 12 ground balls and three caused turnovers. He recorded points in 13 of 14 games, including seven multi-goal outings and nine multi-point performances. Sheridan also earned a spot on the A-10 All-Academic Team.
Stull played in all 14 games, ranking ninth in the A-10 with 42 ground balls and 10th with 13 caused turnovers. He added two goals—including a man-down score—and one assist while contributing to Richmond's elite defensive unit.
Lucas Littlejohn and Lukas Olsson were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Littlejohn started 12 of 14 games and finished with 33 goals (third in the A-10), 13 assists, and 46 points (fourth), averaging 3.29 points per game. He also collected 30 ground balls and five caused turnovers. His season was highlighted by a four-goal, two-assist performance in the Spiders' win over No. 7 Virginia.
Olsson appeared in 13 games, starting 10, and scored 18 goals with three assists. He also added four man-up goals and two ground balls.
Freshman Daniel Picart was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team following a promising debut season. He played in all 14 games, starting five, and totaled six goals, four assists, and five ground balls.
Under Chemotti's leadership, Richmond has advanced to 10 consecutive conference title games, capturing five league championships and earning five NCAA Tournament appearances. The Spiders will look to add a sixth this weekend at the Atlantic 10 Tournament, hosted by Saint Joseph's. Top-seeded Richmond takes on No. 4 UMass in the semifinals on Thursday, May 1, at 11 a.m.
Head Coach Dan Chemotti was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year after guiding the Spiders to an 11–3 overall record and a perfect 5–0 mark in league play—Richmond's first unblemished run through A-10 competition to earn the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament. The Spiders defeated four nationally ranked teams during the season—No. 7 Virginia, No. 13 Georgetown, No. 19 UMass, and No. 17 Saint Joseph's—setting a new program record for top-20 victories in a single season. Under Chemotti, Richmond's statistical dominance is among the best in the country. Richmond ranks third nationally in scoring defense (7.86 goals allowed per game), clearing percentage (.910), and caused turnovers per game (11.36). Offensively, the team averaged 13.64 goals per game, ranking 10th nationally and first in the A-10. Richmond also led the conference in points per game (21.43), posted a +5.79 scoring margin (third in the NCAA), and finished with a .786 winning percentage—the best in the A-10 and eighth nationally, while only one of Richmond's three losses this season came by more than a single goal.
Goalie Zach Vigue repeated as Atlantic 10 Goalie of the Year after anchoring the conference's top-ranked defense. Vigue started all 14 games, making 114 saves (8.14 per game) while posting a league-best goals-against average of 7.85. His .518 save percentage ranked fourth in the A-10, and he added 39 ground balls, eight caused turnovers, and one assist. A Preseason All-A-10 selection, Vigue was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week twice (Feb. 10, Feb. 17) and was included on the Tewaaraton Watch List. Nationally, he ranks eighth among active NCAA leaders in career saves (573) and goals-against average (9.63), and fourth in minutes played (3,116). He also earned a spot on the A-10 All-Academic Team.
Aidan O'Neil was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year after a dynamic season in which he started all 14 games, tallying 25 goals (ninth in the A-10) and 18 assists (fourth) for a 3.07 points-per-game average (fifth). O'Neil recorded points in 13 of 14 contests, including 10 multi-point games. A Preseason All-A-10 pick, he earned A-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Feb. 3 and helped lead Richmond to a conference-best 13.64 goals per game, ranking 10th nationally in scoring offense.
Midfielder Max Merklinger capped an outstanding senior season by earning A-10 Midfielder of the Year honors. He started every game, scoring 23 goals and adding 15 assists (seventh in the A-10), along with 15 ground balls and one caused turnover. Merklinger posted six multi-goal games and 12 multi-point outings, highlighted by a five-goal performance against UMBC. He ranked 10th in the A-10 in points per game at 2.71.
This marks the third consecutive season Richmond has claimed both the Offensive and Midfielder of the Year honors—every year since the A-10 began sponsoring men's lacrosse. Dalton Young (Offensive) and Lance Madonna (Midfielder) were the back-to-back recipients in 2023 and 2024.
Defenseman Hunter Smith became the first Spider to earn A-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors, sharing the award with Saint Joseph's Levi Verch. Smith started all 14 games, finishing with 19 caused turnovers (fourth in the A-10), 22 ground balls, and one assist. He was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 3, selected as a Preseason All-A-10 performer, and earned Inside Lacrosse Second Team Midseason All-American recognition. Smith registered at least one caused turnover in 12 games and was instrumental in Richmond ranking third nationally and first in the A-10 in scoring defense, clearing percentage, and caused turnovers per game.
Three other Spiders earned First Team All-Conference recognition: Mitchell Dunham, Joe Sheridan, and Tommy Stull.
Dunham led the A-10 and ranked fourth nationally with 32 caused turnovers while adding 41 ground balls. He recorded a caused turnover in 13 games, with six multi-turnover performances, including five against both Georgetown and High Point. Dunham was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week twice (March 24 and April 14).
Sheridan started all 14 games and finished with 24 goals and seven assists, along with 12 ground balls and three caused turnovers. He recorded points in 13 of 14 games, including seven multi-goal outings and nine multi-point performances. Sheridan also earned a spot on the A-10 All-Academic Team.
Stull played in all 14 games, ranking ninth in the A-10 with 42 ground balls and 10th with 13 caused turnovers. He added two goals—including a man-down score—and one assist while contributing to Richmond's elite defensive unit.
Lucas Littlejohn and Lukas Olsson were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
Littlejohn started 12 of 14 games and finished with 33 goals (third in the A-10), 13 assists, and 46 points (fourth), averaging 3.29 points per game. He also collected 30 ground balls and five caused turnovers. His season was highlighted by a four-goal, two-assist performance in the Spiders' win over No. 7 Virginia.
Olsson appeared in 13 games, starting 10, and scored 18 goals with three assists. He also added four man-up goals and two ground balls.
Freshman Daniel Picart was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team following a promising debut season. He played in all 14 games, starting five, and totaled six goals, four assists, and five ground balls.
Under Chemotti's leadership, Richmond has advanced to 10 consecutive conference title games, capturing five league championships and earning five NCAA Tournament appearances. The Spiders will look to add a sixth this weekend at the Atlantic 10 Tournament, hosted by Saint Joseph's. Top-seeded Richmond takes on No. 4 UMass in the semifinals on Thursday, May 1, at 11 a.m.
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