Four from Men's Lacrosse Named USILA Honorable Mention All-Region

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Following the most successful season in program history for the University of Bridgeport men's lacrosse team, four Purple Knights garnered Honorable Mention All-Region recognition from the USILA, as announced by the organization on Tuesday.

UB seniors Connor Cullen, James Napoli, Luca Runyan and Ryan Thomas, all CACC All-Conference First Team selections in 2026, have added another accolade to their decorated careers by earning Honorable Mention All-Region recognition.

Connor Cullen – USILA Honorable Mention All-Region
Cullen, who also earned Honorable Mention All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse, helped the Purple Knights to the most successful season in program history in 2026. The face-off specialist dominated at the X throughout the year, leading all of NCAA Division II with a remarkable 74.1 percent win rate after finishing the regular season 191-of-254 on face-offs.

Cullen also controlled possession for the Purple Knights, pacing the CACC with 114 total ground balls while ranking third in the conference in ground balls per game at 7.13. He collected a season-high 15 ground balls twice and won at least 80 percent of his face-offs in five different contests.

In addition to his face-off work, Cullen contributed offensively with three goals and four assists. His first-quarter goal against No. 19 Bentley on March 18 helped spark UB's historic victory, marking the program's first-ever win over a nationally ranked opponent.

Following that standout effort against the Falcons, Cullen earned a spot on the USILA National Team of the Week after going 16-of-18 on face-offs with five ground balls and a goal.

Cullen also etched his name into the conference record books during his stellar career, setting a new CACC all-time mark with 648 career face-off wins while finishing third in league history with 357 career ground balls.

James Napoli – USILA Honorable Mention All-Region
A 2026 CACC All-Conference First Team honoree, Napoli paced the Purple Knights with career highs of 48 goals and 68 total points while ranking fourth in the conference in goals per game at 3.00.

One of the CACC's most dangerous offensive weapons throughout the season, Napoli recorded multiple points in 13 of UB's 15 contests and produced six games with at least four goals. His signature performance came on March 28 against Caldwell, when he rewrote the program record book with 10 goals and 12 total points. He also came through in one of the biggest moments of the season, scoring twice in the final 1:38 of regulation to force overtime in UB's historic victory over nationally ranked Bentley.

A two-time CACC Player of the Week and an USILA National Team of the Week selection on April 24, Napoli closed out his sensational season by reaching the 200-career-point milestone in the regular-season finale against Mercy.

Luca Runyan – USILA Honorable Mention All-Region
Runyan anchored the Purple Knights defensively during a standout 2026 campaign, earning a spot on the CACC All-Conference First Team for the first time in his career.

One of the conference's premier defensive players, Runyan led UB with 34 caused turnovers while ranking second on the team with 75 ground balls. He finished fourth in the CACC in caused turnovers per game (2.13) and sixth in ground balls per contest (4.69), while also making an impact offensively with one goal and 14 assists.

Runyan's consistency stood out all season long, as he recorded at least three caused turnovers in seven different games, highlighted by a career-best seven in a road victory over Holy Family on April 11. He also collected five or more ground balls eight times, including a career-high 10 in a win at AIC on March 25.

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

Ryan Thomas – USILA Honorable Mention All-Region
Thomas once again served as a cornerstone of the Purple Knights' defense during another standout campaign in 2026, earning CACC All-Conference First Team honors for the second consecutive season.

A consistent defensive presence throughout the year, Thomas ranked third on the team with 22 caused turnovers and recorded at least one in 12 of UB's 15 games. He also contributed offensively with a goal and an assist, highlighted by a tally in Bridgeport's 9-8 victory over nationally ranked Bentley.

Thomas played a vital role in a Purple Knights defensive unit that led the CACC in regular-season ground balls while tying for first in caused turnovers. He concluded his impressive collegiate career with 100 caused turnovers and 115 ground balls across 57 games played.

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