2021 USILA All-Americans

Men's Lacrosse

Four Captains Named USILA Men’s Lacrosse All-Americans

USILA All-Americans

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Four members of the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team were named 2021 USILA All-Americans as Brady Altobello, Phoenix Hines, Dylan Rice, and Max Wayne collected national accolades from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association on Friday afternoon.
 
Rice and Wayne earned recognition from USILA for the second time after both stars were previously named honorable mention All-Americans as sophomores in 2019. Meanwhile, Altobello and Hines were honored by the organization for the first time in their careers.
 
Overall, the four USILA selections marked the most for Christopher Newport in school history, topping the three honorees in 2019. It also marked the fifth straight time at least one Captain earned USILA All-American accolades dating back to 2016.
 
Named an All-American for the first time in his career, Altobello anchored the midfield unit throughout the 2021 campaign. A lethal offensive threat, the junior ranked sixth in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference with 42 goals. That also marked the highest total by a midfielder in program history. Especially effective during extra-man situations, he drove home eight man-up tallies during the year, which placed him 12th in the NCAA and second on the school's all-time charts.
 
Lighting up the opposition with a relentless attack, Altobello posted a point in all 19 games while notching at least one goal in 18 of his appearances. Along the way, he collected 13 multi-goal efforts, including seven hat-tricks. Among his finest outings, the Potomac, Maryland native had six points during a victory over No. 2 Lynchburg on March 20 before adding three strikes during the NCAA Final Four at Salisbury on May 23.
 
Celebrated for his work throughout the year, Altobello was honored as a Preseason All-American by USILA before earning a spot on the organization's National Team of the Week on March 9 and March 23.
 
Continuing to earn recognition for his work as a long-stick midfielder, Hines earned All-American accolades for the second time in his career after being celebrated by Inside Lacrosse as a junior in 2020. One of the nation's leading defensive standouts, he finished the year with 32 caused turnovers, which ranked 17th in the country and fourth among LSMs. That total also equaled the fifth-highest single-season mark in program history.
 
Tormenting the competition throughout the year, Hines posted at least two takeaways in nine of his appearances, including a season-high five at Randolph-Macon on March 17. Equally effective against nationally-ranked competition, the Ashburn, Virginia native also came through with three caused turnovers during the squad's victory over No. 2 Lynchburg on March 20 before adding two more against the Hornets in the NCAA Quarterfinals on May 22.
 
The program's all-time leader with 131 career caused turnovers, Hines also flashed his offensive skills in 2021 with four points, including an assist on the overtime game-winner at Washington & Lee on April 20.
 
Rewriting the record books during his senior campaign, Rice continued his career with another historic assault in 2021. He ranked fourth in the conference with 49 goals and sixth with 68 points. Both of those totals also placed him in the top-10 on the program's all-time single-season lists. Meanwhile, he established the school's career goals record with his 127th tally at Roanoke on March 6 before setting the points mark with his 234th in the Final Four at No. 2 Salisbury on May 23.
 
In addition to his career achievements, Rice also broke the single-game points record after notching 10 during a league bout against St. Mary's (Md.) on May 1. Overall, the Mechanicsville, Virginia native registered a point in every game during the season while adding 10 hat-tricks. Especially dominant in the postseason, he tallied at least three goals in each of the squad's three NCAA Tournament games, including four blasts during the Quarterfinals against No. 4 Lynchburg on May 22.
 
Equally successful off the field, Rice also became the first Captain to receive the Coast-to-Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award after being celebrated for his work in the classroom as well.
 
One of the most decorated athletes in Christopher Newport history, Wayne was previously named a second-team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine, making him the first player to earn national plaudits from two different sources in the same year. Remaining one of the country's leading defensemen, he ranked in the top-25 nationally with 30 caused turnovers. That total also placed him fourth in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference and eighth on the school's all-time charts.
 
Dismantling opposing attacks throughout the season, Wayne had a takeaway in 16 of his appearances and grabbed a ground ball in all 19 games. Stepping up against top-flight competition, he had at least two takeaways in four bouts against nationally-ranked opponents, including four caused turnovers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at No. 12 Stevenson on May 16. The Ashburn, Virginia native also came through with a season-high five ground balls at No. 5 Lynchburg on March 26.
 
A consistent presence on the back line, Wayne ranks second in school history with 124 caused turnovers, while his run of 64 consecutive starts stands as the longest "Iron Man" streak in program lore.
 
Aided by the efforts of the All-Americans, Christopher Newport advanced to the program's first Final Four while climbing as high as third in the USILA National Coaches Poll. The Captains eventually capped off the year with a 13-6 record, including three wins over top-15 foes.
 
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Players Mentioned

Brady Altobello

#25 Brady Altobello

M
6' 1"
Junior
Phoenix Hines

#16 Phoenix Hines

LSM
5' 11"
Senior
Dylan Rice

#6 Dylan Rice

A
6' 1"
Senior
Max Wayne

#33 Max Wayne

D
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Brady Altobello

#25 Brady Altobello

6' 1"
Junior
M
Phoenix Hines

#16 Phoenix Hines

5' 11"
Senior
LSM
Dylan Rice

#6 Dylan Rice

6' 1"
Senior
A
Max Wayne

#33 Max Wayne

6' 4"
Senior
D