University of Richmond Athletics
Three Spiders Land on Tewaaraton Watch List
02/10/2026 | Men's Lacrosse
WASHINGTON— Senior Spider captains and All-Americans Aidan O'Neil, Hunter Smith and Jack Pilling were named to the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, as announced by the Tewaaraton Foundation on Tuesday.
The trio is among 50 players nationwide recognized for the award, which honors the top player in college lacrosse.
Richmond joins Ohio State, North Carolina, Duke, Cornell, Syracuse (4) and Maryland (4) as the only programs with three or more players on the watch list. The Spiders are the only team from the Atlantic 10 represented.
The reigning A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, O'Neil looks to build on his single-season points record of 51, set in 2024 and matched again in 2025, which ranks 10th all-time in program history. The anchor of Richmond's offense, O'Neil scored 29 goals and led the Spiders with 22 assists in 2025. He opened the 2026 season with one goal and five assists in Richmond's season-opening win over Robert Morris.
Smith had a career day in the season opener, recording career highs in ground balls (8) and caused turnovers (4). One of the nation's top cover defensemen, Smith was named the A-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 after totaling 27 ground balls and 27 caused turnovers.
Pilling tallied 27 ground balls and added 17 caused turnovers in 2025, playing a crucial role in Richmond's eighth-ranked clearing percentage nationally. In the season opener against Robert Morris, he scooped up three ground balls and caused two turnovers.
The Spiders host No. 13/14 Virginia on Feb. 14 during Red Out Robins. Faceoff is set for noon.
