Spallina Named ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Three Earn All-ACC
4/28/2026 5:02:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Spallina, Rhoa, Leo Earn All-ACC
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ahead of the postseason, Syracuse University men's lacrosse senior attackman Joey Spallina has been named as the ACC Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, while three Orange earned All-ACC honors. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced its annual awards and All-ACC team Tuesday afternoon.
Spallina becomes the first Syracuse player to earn ACC Offensive Player of the Year plaudits since Sergio Salcido in 2017. Spallina, Salcido, and Kevin Rice (2015) are the only three Syracuse players to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors since the Orange joined the league in 2014.
This is Spallina's second major award from the ACC after earning ACC Freshman of the Year in 2023. Syracuse has had a major award winner in three of the last four seasons as Jimmy McCool was the ACC Goalie of the Year in 2025.
In addition to ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Spallina was named All-ACC alongside classmates Luke Rhoa (Midfield) and Michael Leo (Attack).
Hailing from Mount Sinai, New York, Spallina is second in the ACC in points per game, averaging 4.73, backed by a 2.73 assists per game average, which ranks second in the ACC. The Tewaaraton semifinalist leads the conference in both total points (71) and assists (41). Becoming Syracuse's all-time career points leader earlier this month, passing Orange legend Mike Powell (307), Spallina is nearing the top of the ACC record books as well. His 317 points are fourth all-time and just six behind Connor Shellenberger (323) in third. Spallina has 179 career assists to his credit, also the fourth-most in ACC history with Matt Danowski in third with 183.
One of the top scoring threats in the midfield in the ACC, Rhoa has 23 goals this season, averaging 1.53 per game. His total goals are second in the conference among midfielders. Thanks to his shooting range and two-handedness, Rhoa is among the best man-up scorers in the country, tagging eight power play goals, the second most in Division I and tops for a midfielder. Only four players in the country have eight or more man-up goals this season. Rhoa is having one of his best shooting seasons to date, scoring on 27.4 percent of his shots, jumping his rate from .241 last season.
Playing a majority of the season at attack, Leo has the ability to play out of the box as well. Leo ranks eight in the ACC with a 3.27 points per game average behind 28 goals and 21 assists. His 1.40 assists per game average slots him fifth in the league as well. Leo has two game-winning goals this season while scoring once on the power play. He has two man-goals this year as well, and is the only player in the conference with not only one man-down goal this year, but two. Ryan Stines of Utah is the only other player in the country with multiple man-down goals this year.
No. 6 Syracuse heads for Charlotte, North Carolina to begin defense of its ACC Championship from a year ago. The third-seeded Orange faceoff Friday night against No. 5 North Carolina, the number two seed in this year's tournament. Opening faceoff is slated for 8 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
ACC Network will be on hand for the Tournament, with Drew Carter and Matt Ward on the call with Dana Boyle reporting from the sideline.
ACC Tournament Central is located at TheACC.com with information about tickets, watch links, and live stats.
Spallina becomes the first Syracuse player to earn ACC Offensive Player of the Year plaudits since Sergio Salcido in 2017. Spallina, Salcido, and Kevin Rice (2015) are the only three Syracuse players to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors since the Orange joined the league in 2014.
This is Spallina's second major award from the ACC after earning ACC Freshman of the Year in 2023. Syracuse has had a major award winner in three of the last four seasons as Jimmy McCool was the ACC Goalie of the Year in 2025.
In addition to ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Spallina was named All-ACC alongside classmates Luke Rhoa (Midfield) and Michael Leo (Attack).
Hailing from Mount Sinai, New York, Spallina is second in the ACC in points per game, averaging 4.73, backed by a 2.73 assists per game average, which ranks second in the ACC. The Tewaaraton semifinalist leads the conference in both total points (71) and assists (41). Becoming Syracuse's all-time career points leader earlier this month, passing Orange legend Mike Powell (307), Spallina is nearing the top of the ACC record books as well. His 317 points are fourth all-time and just six behind Connor Shellenberger (323) in third. Spallina has 179 career assists to his credit, also the fourth-most in ACC history with Matt Danowski in third with 183.
One of the top scoring threats in the midfield in the ACC, Rhoa has 23 goals this season, averaging 1.53 per game. His total goals are second in the conference among midfielders. Thanks to his shooting range and two-handedness, Rhoa is among the best man-up scorers in the country, tagging eight power play goals, the second most in Division I and tops for a midfielder. Only four players in the country have eight or more man-up goals this season. Rhoa is having one of his best shooting seasons to date, scoring on 27.4 percent of his shots, jumping his rate from .241 last season.
Playing a majority of the season at attack, Leo has the ability to play out of the box as well. Leo ranks eight in the ACC with a 3.27 points per game average behind 28 goals and 21 assists. His 1.40 assists per game average slots him fifth in the league as well. Leo has two game-winning goals this season while scoring once on the power play. He has two man-goals this year as well, and is the only player in the conference with not only one man-down goal this year, but two. Ryan Stines of Utah is the only other player in the country with multiple man-down goals this year.
No. 6 Syracuse heads for Charlotte, North Carolina to begin defense of its ACC Championship from a year ago. The third-seeded Orange faceoff Friday night against No. 5 North Carolina, the number two seed in this year's tournament. Opening faceoff is slated for 8 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
ACC Network will be on hand for the Tournament, with Drew Carter and Matt Ward on the call with Dana Boyle reporting from the sideline.
ACC Tournament Central is located at TheACC.com with information about tickets, watch links, and live stats.
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