Notre Dame’s Shawn Lyght is the first defensemen in history to win the Tewaaraton Award

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - MAY 23: Joey Spallina #22 of the Syracuse University Orange looks for goal through Shawn Lyght #90 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Division I Men's Lacrosse Semifinals held at Scott Stadium on May 23, 2026 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Larry French/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

While the Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse team came up short in the National Championship game to secure its third title in four years, this season will still go down in NCAA Lacrosse history. Notre Dame’s Shawn Lyght was named as the winner of the Tewaaraton Award for the nation’s best lacrosse player. It is the first time in history that a defensemen has won the award.

SHAWN LYGHT WINS THE TEWAARATON!

He becomes the first defender in the history of the award to earn the honor. Incredible.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/n153cyPiiA

— Notre Dame Lacrosse (@NDlacrosse) May 29, 2026

From the ACC press release:

Notre Dame’s Shawn Lyght Wins 2026 Tewaaraton Award

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame junior defenseman Shawn Lyght won the 2026 Men’s Tewaaraton Award, presented annually to the top college lacrosse player in the United States. The award was presented Thursday during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Lyght becomes the first defenseman to earn the award. He is the eighth ACC player to win the Tewaaraton Award and joins Pat Kavanagh (2024) as the only Notre Dame players to earn the highest honor in college lacrosse.

Lyght led the Fighting Irish to the ACC regular-season title and was Notre Dame’s defensive eraser in leading the Irish to the national championship game. For the second straight season, he was named the William C. Schmeisser Award winner, presented annually to the best defensive player in the country. He became just the eighth player to earn the honor in consecutive seasons.

Named a USILA First-Team All-American for the second straight season, Lyght also was the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-ACC honoree. In 16 games, he totaled 26 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers.

Lyght was one of three Tewaaraton finalists from the ACC this season, joining North Carolina’s Owen Duffy and Syracuse’s Joey Spallina.

ACC Tewaaraton Award Honorees

2026 Shawn Lyght, Notre Dame
2024 Pat Kavanagh, Notre Dame
2023 Brennan O’Neill, Duke
2011 Steele Stanwick, Virginia
2010 Ned Crotty, Duke
2007 Matt Danowski, Duke
2006 Matt Ward, Virginia
2003 Chris Rotelli, Virginia

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