Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Bellarmine on January 31, 2026 at 12 p.m.
/
12 p.m.
Men's Lacrosse
vs Bellarmine
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Four Blue Devils Earn Preseason All-ACC Honors
1/27/2026 4:36:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Four Blue Devils have been named to the 2026 Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-ACC team in a vote of the league's five head coaches. Duke and Syracuse both landed four players on the 14-player list.
Earning spots on the Preseason All-ACC midfield squad are Benn Johnston and Max Sloat. Charlie Johnson is a preseason pick for close defense, while Aidan Maguire was tabbed as the best short stick defensive midfielder in the ACC.
Reigning ACC Champion Syracuse is picked to win the league, earning 25 points. Notre Dame and North Carolina came in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, with the Blue Devils and Virginia rounding out the predicted order of finish.
All four players also garnered preseason All-America nods from USA Lacrosse with Maguire and Johnston headlining the group with first-team recognition. Johnson was a third-team selection and Sloat garnered an honorable mention.
Johnson and Maguire return to anchor the Duke defense after both had breakout seasons. Starting for the first time in his career, Johnson made a big splash in anchoring Duke's close defense. The Riverside, Connecticut native led the team with 32 caused turnovers while drawing the opponents' top attackmen throughout the season. His 32 takeaways were second all-time in Duke single-season history.
Maguire is a menace as a short stick defensive midfielder, collecting a Duke defensive middie record 26 caused turnovers and picking up 57 ground balls. Named the 2025 National Midfielder of the Year, Maguire was the Co-ACC Defensive Player of the Year and most recently was the lone collegiate player invited to the USA Lacrosse Men's Senior National Team training camp.
Johnston and Sloat were a dynamic duo for the Blue Devils on the first midfield last season, combining for 77 points from 54 goals and 23 assists. Sloat had a career year, finishing the campaign ranked third on the team in scoring with 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points – 15 more than his previous year.
A USILA All-America second team pick, Johnston was second on the team with 28 goals and picked up 25 ground balls to lead all offensive players. A team captain, Johnston has started all but four games in his career and is on pace to join the 100-point club this season.
The Blue Devils open the 2026 season Jan. 31 against Bellarmine. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. on Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's lacrosse, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMLAX".
#GoDuke
Earning spots on the Preseason All-ACC midfield squad are Benn Johnston and Max Sloat. Charlie Johnson is a preseason pick for close defense, while Aidan Maguire was tabbed as the best short stick defensive midfielder in the ACC.
Reigning ACC Champion Syracuse is picked to win the league, earning 25 points. Notre Dame and North Carolina came in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, with the Blue Devils and Virginia rounding out the predicted order of finish.
All four players also garnered preseason All-America nods from USA Lacrosse with Maguire and Johnston headlining the group with first-team recognition. Johnson was a third-team selection and Sloat garnered an honorable mention.
Johnson and Maguire return to anchor the Duke defense after both had breakout seasons. Starting for the first time in his career, Johnson made a big splash in anchoring Duke's close defense. The Riverside, Connecticut native led the team with 32 caused turnovers while drawing the opponents' top attackmen throughout the season. His 32 takeaways were second all-time in Duke single-season history.
Maguire is a menace as a short stick defensive midfielder, collecting a Duke defensive middie record 26 caused turnovers and picking up 57 ground balls. Named the 2025 National Midfielder of the Year, Maguire was the Co-ACC Defensive Player of the Year and most recently was the lone collegiate player invited to the USA Lacrosse Men's Senior National Team training camp.
Johnston and Sloat were a dynamic duo for the Blue Devils on the first midfield last season, combining for 77 points from 54 goals and 23 assists. Sloat had a career year, finishing the campaign ranked third on the team in scoring with 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points – 15 more than his previous year.
A USILA All-America second team pick, Johnston was second on the team with 28 goals and picked up 25 ground balls to lead all offensive players. A team captain, Johnston has started all but four games in his career and is on pace to join the 100-point club this season.
The Blue Devils open the 2026 season Jan. 31 against Bellarmine. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. on Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's lacrosse, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMLAX".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
SSDM
/ Men's Lacrosse
Duke Men's Lacrosse: Excellence on and off the field defined
Friday, August 29
Duke Men's Lacrosse Recruiting Video
Friday, August 29
Andrew McAdorey Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
John Danowski Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
