BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — The Wagner College men's lacrosse team placed three players on All-NEC teams, as voted on by the league's eight head coaches and announced on Wednesday.
Senior midfielder Jake Mitchell and junior defensive midfielder Ian Muchineuta earned Second Team All-NEC honors, while freshman attacker Dylan Popehn was named to the NEC All-Rookie Team.
Mitchell led the Seahawks with 39 points on 26 goals and 13 assists. The Saint Louis, Missouri native ranked sixth in the NEC in points this season. In 13 games, Mitchell scored multiple goals eight times, including a career-high six goals in Wagner's win over NJIT on March 7.
Against Le Moyne on April 11, Mitchell recorded his 100th career point and finished his Seahawk career with 107 points, ranking third all-time in Wagner history. Mitchell was named NEC Player of the Week once this season on March 9 and earned Prime Performer recognition four times.
Muchineuta anchored Wagner's defense, appearing in all 13 games this season. The Montclair, New Jersey native totaled 26 ground balls and five caused turnovers while also contributing offensively with three goals and four assists for seven points.
Popehn earned a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team after finishing second in the conference and 15th nationally in goals scored by a freshman. The Andover, Minnesota native totaled 20 goals and six assists for 26 points on the season.
Popehn scored multiple goals in six contests, including four games with three goals. The first-year attacker was named NEC Rookie of the Week on February 23 after recording two goals and one assist against Monmouth and adding a goal against UMass Lowell.
Mitchell and Muchineuta are the first Wagner athletes to make a postseason conference team since Brendan Higgins and Eli Fisher back in 2023.
Popehn is the first freshman Seahawk to earn the honor since Quin Hoke earned the honor in 2022.
The Seahawks finished the season with a 5-8 overall record and a 3-4 mark in conference play, finishing fifth in the NEC. Wagner averaged 8.31 goals per game while recording 14.15 saves per game.
