SPARKS, Md. – Former Loyola University Maryland men's lacrosse All-Americans Joe Fletcher and Josh Hawkins will be part of the U.S. National Team roster that will play an exhibition game against the University of Notre Dame in January.
The Major League Lacrosse All-Stars join 28 others who will compete for the Stars and Stripes at the annual Team USA Spring Premiere in Bradenton, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 15.
The duo were key members of the Greyhounds defense that helped lead Loyola to the 2012 NCAA Championship, an event at which both earned All-Tournament honors.
Fletcher, who is currently the men's lacrosse program's Director of Operations, has earned All-MLL honors each of the last two seasons and was the 2015 MLL Defensive Player of the Year while helping the New York Lizards win the league title.
As an undergraduate, Fletcher was a three-time All-American, picking up first team honors as a junior in 2013 and senior in 2014. He was a two-time conference player of the year, earning defensive honors from the ECAC Lacrosse League in 2013, the Patriot League in 2014. Following his senior season, Fletcher was named the nation's top defender as the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's William C. Schmeisser Award winner. He was also recognized as the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and with the NCAA Today's Top 10 Award.
Hawkins earned his first MLL All-Star nod in 2016 and has been one of the game's most dynamic short-stick defensive midfielders since his time at Loyola. 
A two-time All-American for the Greyhounds, Hawkins posted 26 goals and nine assists for 35 points during his four years on the Evergreen campus. At the time of his graduation, his 172 ground balls ere 14th in school Division I history, and his 34 caused turnovers were tied for fifth. As a senior in 2013, Hawkins had career-best season in transition scoring, posting 11 goals and two assists in nine contests. 
The Team USA experience will be the first for Hawkins. Fletcher was a member of the 30-man training roster for the 2014 World Championships, and he has participated in several other events such as this over the last three years.
Loyola opens its 2017 season on Saturday, Feb. 11, when it hosts the University of Virginia at Ridley Athletic Complex. Fans can purchase discounted season tickets through Dec. 7 by participating in Loyola's Holi-Deals special at www.loyolagreyhounds.com/tickets.