BALTIMORE – A record five Loyola University Maryland men's lacrosse players were named United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-Americans, the organization announced.
 
All five of the Class of 2020 members – Matt Higgins, Alex Johnson, Ryan McNulty, John Railey and Peter Swindell ­– had starting roles for the Greyhounds and received the award; seniors with cumulative grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher were eligible for the award that is selected by the national group.
 
Higgins, Johnson, McNulty and Railey were members of the Greyhounds' defensive unit that finished he shortened 2020 season ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 52 goals in six games, an average of 8.67 per contest.
 
McNulty and Higgins were also the team's top long-stick and short-stick defensive midfielders, respectively, helping the Greyhounds rank third in face-off winning percentage and sixth in clearing percentage. Johnson and Railey, meanwhile were a part of the close defensive unit for the Greyhounds.
 
Swindell finished the six games as the team's second-leading scorer and top midfielder in both goals (9) and assists (7).
 
McNulty was leading the team at the end of the season in caused turnovers with 11, while Johnson was second after registering six. McNulty was also second on the team with 23 ground balls, and he had two goals to go with two assists.
 
Higgins had posted seven ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Johnson also had six ground balls. Railey played in, and started, one game on close defense but was returning from an injury when the season was shortened. In that game against Johns Hopkins University, the 2019 starter had four ground balls.