Men's Lacrosse Rewarded With Six CACC All-Conference Selections for 2026

FULL CACC RELEASE

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Following the best regular season in program history, the University of Bridgeport's men's lacrosse team was rewarded with six CACC All-Conference selections, the league announced on Tuesday. The Purple Knights led the CACC with five first-team honorees while also placing one on the second team.

UB's first teamers include James Napoli, Ryan Thomas, Connor Cullen, Luca Runyan, Luciano Canino while Mark Napoli was tabbed to the second team.

James Napoli – CACC All-Conference First Team
A two-time All-CACC second-team selection, Napoli elevated his game as a senior to earn first-team honors while putting together a career year for the Purple Knights. He led UB with 47 goals and 67 total points—both personal bests—while ranking third in the conference in goals per game (3.13).

Napoli proved to be one of the league's most consistent offensive threats, recording multiple points in 13 of UB's 15 games and posting six contests with at least four goals. His season was highlighted by a record-breaking performance against Caldwell on March 28, when he set a new program mark with 10 goals and 12 points. He also delivered in clutch moments, scoring twice in the final 1:38 of regulation to force overtime in a signature win over nationally ranked Bentley.

A two-time CACC Player of the Week and a USILA National Team of the Week selection (April 24), Napoli capped his standout campaign by reaching 200 career points in the regular-season finale against Mercy.

Connor Cullen – CACC All-Conference First Team
After earning first-team All-CACC honors as a junior and second-team recognition a year ago, Connor Cullen returned to the top tier this season with another first-team selection. The face-off specialist led the nation with a 75.2 percent win rate, finishing the regular season an impressive 191-of-254 at the X.

Cullen also dominated possession for the Purple Knights, leading the CACC with 109 ground balls while ranking second in the conference at 7.27 per game, and added three goals and four assists offensively. He posted a season-high 15 ground balls twice and won at least 80 percent of his face-offs in five different contests.

Cullen earned a spot on the USILA's National Team of the Week on March 26 after a standout showing against nationally ranked Bentley, going 16-of-18 on face-offs with five ground balls and a goal. He also etched his name into the record books, setting a new CACC mark with 644 career face-off wins while ranking third in conference history with 352 career ground balls.

Luca Runyan – CACC All-Conference First Team
Runyan anchored the Purple Knights defensively with a standout season, earning All-CACC recognition after leading the team with 33 caused turnovers while ranking second with 70 ground balls. One of the conference's best defensive players, he finished second in the CACC in caused turnovers per game (2.20) and seventh in ground balls per contest (4.67), while also contributing offensively with a goal and 14 assists.

Runyan's consistency was evident throughout the year, as he recorded at least three caused turnovers in seven games, highlighted by a career-best seven in a win at Holy Family on April 11. He also collected five or more ground balls in seven contests, including a career-high 10 in a victory at AIC on March 25.

A two-time CACC Defensive Player of the Week, Runyan also earned national recognition twice as a member of the USILA's National Team of the Week.

Ryan Thomas – CACC All-Conference First Team
Thomas continued to anchor the Purple Knights' defense with another standout campaign, earning his third career All-CACC honor and a second straight first-team selection. He ranked third on the team with 21 caused turnovers, recording at least one in 12 of UB's 15 games, while adding a goal and an assist offensively. His goal came in dramatic fashion, finding the back of the net in Bridgeport's 9-8 overtime win over nationally ranked Bentley.

Thomas played a key role in a defensive unit that led the CACC in ground balls and tied for first in caused turnovers. He now sits just shy of a major milestone with 99 career caused turnovers, while also totaling 115 ground balls across 56 games played.

Luciano Canino – CACC All-Conference First Team
Canino turned in a strong offensive campaign for the Purple Knights, finishing third on the team with 30 goals and 42 total points. He elevated his play in conference action, tallying 29 of his 42 points—including 10 of his 12 assists—across eight CACC contests, where he ranked eighth in the league with 3.63 points per game.

A consistent scoring threat, Canino recorded eight multi-goal performances throughout the season. His year was highlighted by a dominant outing in a pivotal 17-16 win at Holy Family on April 11, when he erupted for a career-best seven goals and 10 points.

Mark Napoli – CACC All-Conference Second Team
Napoli played a key role in UB's defensive success this season, helping power a unit that led the CACC in ground balls and tied for the league lead in caused turnovers. He finished the year with 37 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers while also contributing offensively with three goals and an assist.

A steady presence in UB's backline, Napoli recorded multiple ground balls in 11 games and notched at least one caused turnover in eight contests. He also delivered a strong all-around performance in a pivotal 17-16 win at Holy Family on April 11, tallying three ground balls, two caused turnovers and an assist.

For all information regarding Bridgeport Athletics, visit www.UBKnights.com and follow UB Athletics on Facebook (UBPurpleKnights), X (@UBPurpleKnights) and Instagram (@UBPurpleKnights).