BALTIMORE – The 2026 USA Lacrosse Magazine and USILA Division III Men's Preseason All-America Teams were announced this week, and Washington and Lee senior
Elliot Cohen headlined the Generals selected.
Cohen was lauded as the USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Preseason Specialist of the Year, and he also earned a spot on the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America First Team and USILA Second Team. Below are W&L's men's lacrosse preseason All-America selections, with Inside Lacrosse yet to announce its teams:
- Elliot Cohen - USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team, USILA Second Team
- Jay O'Keefe - USA Lacrosse Magazine Second Team
- James Haley - USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team, USILA Third Team
- Chris Datz - USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention
Cohen is no stranger to preseason recognition, as this marks the second straight campaign in which he has made the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America First Team, and it is his seventh career preseason All-America citation. A 2025 USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American, Cohen had a stellar junior season in which he tallied 32 ground balls, three caused turnovers and 13 points (6g, 7a). Cohen has produced double-digit points and at least 30 ground balls in each of his three seasons so far.
O'Keefe stepped into a larger role in 2025, starting all 21 games on the defensive unit, and he proved to be one of the Generals' top defenders. In his first full season as a starter, O'Keefe led the team with 31 caused turnovers and ranked second among defensemen with 46 ground balls. A Second Team All-ODAC and USILA Honorable Mention All-American, O'Keefe's best game of the season came in the ODAC Championship game when he caused seven turnovers and scooped up six ground balls.
Haley is W&L's top returning offensive player, who received preseason All-America Honorable Mention recognition from USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse a season ago. Haley logged 71 points on 50 goals and 21 assists in 2025, all of which were Top 2 on the team and lead all returning players for this season. He also notched 47 ground balls for the second straight season and caused six turnovers, while logging three or more points in 14 of his 19 appearances last season.
Datz is another key piece to the Generals' defensive unit, packing a strong 1-2 punch with O'Keefe. Datz was also a preseason All-America Honorable Mention for USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse last season before landing on the USILA All-America Honorable Mention list after he produced 19 caused turnovers and 60 ground balls. Datz's efforts also earned him a selection to the All-ODAC First Team and IMLCA All-Region 4 Second Team.
The Generals, ranked No. 6 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll, will begin their ODAC Tournament title defense on Saturday, February 14, when they open the season at No. 11 York (Pa.) at 1:00 p.m.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
