Men's Lacrosse Finishes Up 2026 Recruiting Class

Men's Lacrosse 08.25.26

Men's Lacrosse Finishes Up 2026 Recruiting Class

DETROIT (8/26/2026) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team will have a total of 17 new Titans on the roster in the upcoming season with the addition of four new student-athletes to go with the 13 announced in the fall.

The newest Titans include collegiate transfer Lucas Betz and freshmen Carter Freund, Trevor Noble and Clayton Penzien.

They join the fall class of Porter Burd, Gabriele Caschera, Graeme Crowder, Joaquin Gatt, Brody Giacona, Matt Kelley, Mickey McGovern, Kayden McIntosh, Christian Mongillo, Ben Pizzano, Sawyer Smith, Vince Vale, and Dillyn Vanhelkum.

"This week, we officially welcomed our 2026 incoming recruiting class to campus," said head coach Charlie Hayes '18. "We are incredibly excited to have this group on campus and in the building finally! They not only represent tremendous talent, but also the character, work ethic, and commitment to our program that we are looking for. We cannot wait to see each of them grow as both lacrosse players and young men, and are confident they will help shape the future of our program."

Lucas Betz * Midfield * Telluride, Colo. * Telluride (North Greenville)

Spent his first two collegiate seasons at Limestone and North Greenville University
Was Second Team All-League SSDM last season at North Greenville, tallying nine caused turnovers, 20 ground balls, and four points on two goals and two assists
As a prep, lettered for three years in hockey and four in lacrosse
Was All-State twice, including First Team as a senior
Tabbed All-Conference three times
Led th3 4A Division in Colorado in points with 101 points in 14 games as a senior
Played club with 10th Mountain Lacrosse and Vail Colorado

Carter Freund * Midfield * Woodstock, Vt. * Kimball Union

Lettered in alpine skiing and lacrosse
Helped his team to a district runner-up finish as a sophomore
Tabbed "Three Bests" at the IMLCA Players Summit in 2025
Played club lacrosse with Silverbacks and VT Voyageurs

Trevor Noble * Defense * Orangeville, Ont. * The Hill Academy

Played three years at the prestigious Hill Academy
Named the Defensive Player of the Year and was part of the Prep Team as a senior
Played box lacrosse with the Orangeville Northmen

Clayton Penzien * Midfield * Howell, Mich. * Hartland

Lettered in football and lacrosse in high school
Two-time All-State, including First Team as a senior, and was three-time All-Region
Tabbed First Team All-League and All-County as a junior and senior
Was the Offensive Player of the Year as a junior
Helped his team to a runner-up finish as a sophomore
Played club with Cherries Lacrosse

Porter Burd * Midfield * Anthem, Ariz. * Boulder Creek

Lettered all four years in lacrosse and was a three-time team captain
Was First Team All-State at midfield and attack
Posted over 100 career goals and 50 assists
Played club with Team 48, Atlanta Thunder, and No Excuse AZ

Gabriele Caschera * LSM * 5-8 * 160 * Caledon, Ont. * Everest Academy

Lettered in squash, wrestling, and lacrosse
Played in the OJLL with the Brampton Excelsiors for the past three seasons, posting five goals and seven assists this year and nine points on four goals and five assists in 2025
Played club with Old Line Elite

Graeme Crowder * G * 6-3 * 200 * Cambridge, Ont. * The Kiski School

Earned letters in lacrosse
All-MSLA Honorable Mention
Tallied a school-record 25 saves in a game
Suited up with the Kitchener Kodiaks in the OJLL for two seasons, playing defense, and had a goal and three assists this past summer
Played club with Edge 8 and was ranked in the top 20 nationally, winning the Saratoga Spring Invite

Joaquin Gatt * A * 5-9 * 155 * Niagara Falls, Ont. * Everest Academy

A varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and soccer as a prep
Posted more than 200 career points as a prep
Helped his team to two state finals in New York and Virginia
At St. Joseph Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., he helped his team to a pair of state finals appearances
Won a state championship at St. Anne's Belfield in Virginia last season, tallying 71 goals and 22 assists
Earned All-Catholic honors as a freshman and sophomore at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo and later earned VISAA First Team All-State recognition at St. Anne's-Belfield
A two-time World Box Lacrosse champion for Team Haudenosaunee for U16 and U15
Played for the Brampton Excelsiors in the OJLL
Played club with Monarchs and After Hours Lacrosse

Brody Giacona * D * 6-3 * 210 * Washington, Mich. * Romeo

Earned letters in football and lacrosse
A three-time captain and All-State Academic
Was First Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State as a sophomore after tallying 20 caused turnovers, 30 ground balls three goals, and five assists
Played club with Juiced Cherries and the squad has been ranked in the top 25

Matt Kelley * MF * 6-0 * 195 * Allentown, Pa. * Parkland

A four-year letterwinner in lacrosse
Tabbed Second Team All-Area as a sophomore and junior
Helped his team to a state semifinalist appearance as a freshman and the quarterfinals as a sophomore
Has posted 46 goals and 76 assists for 122 points in three years
Played club with Philly Freedom, helping the team win the Philly Summer Invitational and Liberty Elite Invite in 2024

Mickey McGovern * Defense/LSM * Ocean Township, N.J. * Ocean Township

Lettered in football, basketball, and lacrosse
A four-year starter in lacrosse and two-time team captain
Was First Team All-State Group 2 as a senior after posting 21 goals, eight assists, and 119 ground balls
Ended his career with a school-record 395 career ground balls, 51 goals, and 26 assists, the most goals, assists, and points by a defenseman in Spartans' history
A two-time Division Defensive Player of the Year, three-time First Team All-Conference, and Second Team All-Shore as a senior
Played club with Team 91 and helped the team rank No. 7 in the country at one point

Kayden McIntosh * MF * 5-8 * 175 * Vancouver, B.C. * Kimball Union (N.H.)

Played basketball and lacrosse as a prep
Recorded 46 goals, 55 assists, and 101 points in the last two seasons
Played his third straight year with the Delta Islanders of the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League, tallying six goals and nine assists after notching six goals and 12 helpers last season and a goal and three assists in 2024
Played club with Silverbacks, Fusion West, and Haudenosaunee Development, winning a USA Box National Tournament and taking first at the Heritage Cup

Christian Mongillo * Faceoff * North Haven, Ct. * Christchurch School (Va.)

Lettered in football and lacrosse as a prep, as he started his career at North Haven HS before transferring to the Christchurch School in Virginia
Started his high school career
A three-time captain and four-time team MVP
Was First Team All-State and All-Conference as a junior, winning over 70.0% of his faceoffs with 130 ground balls and 25 goals
Played. club with Team CT and 2 Way

Ben Pizzano * A * 5-10 * 175 * North Haven, Conn. * Christchurch School (Va.)

A varsity letterwinner in football and lacrosse
Selected All-State and All-Conference in 2024
Posted 203 career points in high school
Played club with Team Connecticut, 2Way, and 2Way Blue

Sawyer Smith * G * 5-10 * 180 * Richland, Wash. * Blue Ridge (Va.)

Earned letters in football and lacrosse
The first Division I recruit from Eastern Washington
Named All-State and All-Conference after tallying a 65.0 save percentage
Recorded over 250 saves
Played club with Cityside, winning multiple tournaments

Vince Vale * Midfield * Mattawan, Mich. * Mattawan

A four-year letterwinner in lacrosse
Earned All-State as a junior and senior
Totaled 123 goals and 73 assists in his career
Posted 46 goals and 21 assists as a senior and was selected All-Region and All-Conference
Helped his team to a regional championship and state semifinals appearance as a junior
Played club with Omnia, Resolute Black, and Project Midwest and was named a Rising All-Star in 2024 and All-America Midwest Team, Legends Classic All-Showcase and Box All-Star in 2023

Dillyn VanHeukelum * LSM/D * 5-10 * 170 * Vicksburg, Mich. * Vicksburg

A varsity letterwinner in football and lacrosse
A three-time team captain
All-State Second Team as a junior and three-time All-Conference
Named Team MVP as a sophomore
Holds the school record for caused turnovers and ground balls
Played club with Project Midwest and Omnia, winning two championships

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