LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the second straight season, senior Ryan Puglisi of the nationally ranked Union College men's lacrosse team was named to the USILA Division III Preseason All-America Teams, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced on Tuesday.
 
After earning honorable mention recognition prior to the 2021 season, Puglisi moved all the way up to the Preseason All-America first team for 2022, recognizing him as one of the top-three defensemen in the country. Union is just one of eight schools represented by a Preseason All-America first-team honoree as well as one of two Liberty League institutions.
 
Puglisi followed through on his preseason accolades last season, earning USILA All-America third-team honors in addition to IMLCA All-Region and All-Liberty League first-team laurels. He started all seven of his appearances during the pandemic-shortened season, leading the Dutchmen with 12 caused turnovers and ranking fourth on the team with 21 ground balls. He also scored a goal and assisted on five as well.
 
Entering his third season as captain of the Dutchmen, Puglisi also sets an example off the field for Union as well. A member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team in the very competitive At-Large category in 2021 and earned Union's prestigious Stephen Ritterbush '68 Award as a junior.
 
Union enters the 2022 season ranked 12th in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 and 18th in the USILA Preseason Poll. The Dutchmen will kick off a very challenging slate, one that includes five teams in the top 14 of the USILA preseason rankings and four more receiving votes in the Poll, on February 26 with a 1 p.m. faceoff against Babson College at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.