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The University of Utah Athletics
Salt LAX City Earns Top Spot in Preseason ASUN Poll; Two Utes Picked for Preseason Player of the Year
1/29/2025 3:18 PM | Lacrosse
Fourth-straight year the Utes are voted number one in the preseason ranking
ATLANTA. – Just three days from their season opener, the University of Utah lacrosse program's Ryan Stines and Cody Hart earning preseason player of the year selections, with two more Utes joining the preseason All-ASUN team, the conference released Wednesday.
Starting their fourth-year in the ASUN Conference, the Utes have seen the top spot of the coaches poll every year since their debut in the league. This year, Utah was unanimously voted in with 36 points, Air Force sitting in second with 28 points, Jacksonville's 26 puts them in third and Bellarmine, Mercer and Queens take up the next slots.
Along with the coaches poll, junior Ryan Stines and senior Cody Hart were picked for preseason awards with two more joining the fray in the all-conference team.
Stines was awarded, with a unanimous vote, the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. In 2024, the junior was honored with the ASUN Player of the year, thanks to his 48 goals on the season. The North Carolina native is currently the school record holder for single-season points (67, 2024) and ranks third in career points (116) and career goals (86).
At the end of the season, Stines was ranked second in the ASUN in points per game, averaging 3.94. Due to his 2024 season, the N.C. native was awarded USA Lacrosse All-American honorable mention and currently holds a preseason nomination for the same award.
Starting his final year at Utah, Hart was named the preseason Midfielder of the Year. Appearing in 48 games throughout his career, the Oregon native has accumulated 44 points and currently ranks ninth all-time at Utah in career goals (35).
Both Stines and Hart were unanimously voted on to the preseason All-ASUN team, where they are joined by senior Colby Plotts and junior Nikko DiPonio.
Plotts earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team in the midfielder position. In his four years with the Utes, he has played in 47 games and marked down 21 helpers.
In the 2024 season, Inside Lacrosse awarded DiPonio All-America honorable mention after he earned 35 caused turnovers and 81 ground balls. The Michigan native is the school record holder in single-game (6) and single-season (35) caused turnovers. DiPonio was also named to the All-ASUN first-team selection in 2024 and earned Defensive Player of the Week after breaking the Utah single-game caused turnover record.
Follow Stines, Hart, Plotts and DiPonio and the rest of the lacrosse program as they start their season on Saturday at Ohio State, taking on the Buckeyes at 10:00 a.m. MT.
Starting their fourth-year in the ASUN Conference, the Utes have seen the top spot of the coaches poll every year since their debut in the league. This year, Utah was unanimously voted in with 36 points, Air Force sitting in second with 28 points, Jacksonville's 26 puts them in third and Bellarmine, Mercer and Queens take up the next slots.
Along with the coaches poll, junior Ryan Stines and senior Cody Hart were picked for preseason awards with two more joining the fray in the all-conference team.
Stines was awarded, with a unanimous vote, the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. In 2024, the junior was honored with the ASUN Player of the year, thanks to his 48 goals on the season. The North Carolina native is currently the school record holder for single-season points (67, 2024) and ranks third in career points (116) and career goals (86).
At the end of the season, Stines was ranked second in the ASUN in points per game, averaging 3.94. Due to his 2024 season, the N.C. native was awarded USA Lacrosse All-American honorable mention and currently holds a preseason nomination for the same award.
Starting his final year at Utah, Hart was named the preseason Midfielder of the Year. Appearing in 48 games throughout his career, the Oregon native has accumulated 44 points and currently ranks ninth all-time at Utah in career goals (35).
Both Stines and Hart were unanimously voted on to the preseason All-ASUN team, where they are joined by senior Colby Plotts and junior Nikko DiPonio.
Plotts earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team in the midfielder position. In his four years with the Utes, he has played in 47 games and marked down 21 helpers.
In the 2024 season, Inside Lacrosse awarded DiPonio All-America honorable mention after he earned 35 caused turnovers and 81 ground balls. The Michigan native is the school record holder in single-game (6) and single-season (35) caused turnovers. DiPonio was also named to the All-ASUN first-team selection in 2024 and earned Defensive Player of the Week after breaking the Utah single-game caused turnover record.
Follow Stines, Hart, Plotts and DiPonio and the rest of the lacrosse program as they start their season on Saturday at Ohio State, taking on the Buckeyes at 10:00 a.m. MT.
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