DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 2, 2024) – Mercy University men's lacrosse senior Jason Kuehner (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) has been named USA Lacrosse Magazine Men's Lacrosse Division II Preseason First Team All-American. Graduate student Justin Gerdvil (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) and senior Tyler Pjatak (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) were tabbed Second Team All-American and graduate student TJ Heyder (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) received Third Team honors.
Kuehner is named Preseason First Team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine after earning First Team honors from the USILA earlier this week. The senior was named Third Team All-American by the publication last season and was tabbed Second Team All-American by the USILA. The USILA Second Team All-Region selection was tabbed First Team All-ECC last season. Kuehner was named to the ECC Honor Roll twice and was tabbed to the USILA Division II Team of the Week three times. The junior ended the season 198-302 (.656) on faceoffs with 69 ground balls, eight goals and three assists. He ranked No. 6 nationally in faceoff winning percentage and recorded his 100th career ground ball at STAC on April 23rd.
Gerdvil earns Second Team All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine after taking home USILA Preseason Second Team honors earlier this week. The ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year was tabbed USILA First Team All-American, USILA First Team All-Region and First Team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine last season. The two-time ECC Defensive Player of the Year was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week three times and was named to the USILA Division II Team of the Week three times. He ended the season with a team-high 76 ground balls and 41 caused turnovers with two goals and two assists. Gerdvil ranked No. 8 nationally in caused turnovers per game (2.41).
Pjatak takes home Second Team All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine after earning USILA Preseason Second Team honors yesterday. The senior was named USILA Third Team All-American, USILA Second Team All-Region and USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American last season. The First Team All-ECC selection appeared in 17 games making 15 starts with two goals, one assist, three points, 54 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. He recorded his 100th career ground ball against Frostburg State on April 7th.
Heyder is tabbed Third Team Preseason All-American after being named USILA All-American Honorable Mention last season. The graduate student was named USILA Third Team All-Region a year ago and was tabbed Second Team All-ECC. He was named to the ECC Honor Roll four times after recording a team-high 59 goals with 10 assists, 69 points and 30 ground balls. Heyder set a new single-season school record for goals and ranked No. 13 nationally in goals per game (3.28). The senior recorded his 100th career goal in the win over Molloy on April 27th.
