Preseason All-LVLA First Team Predictions

Based on last season's body of work, offseason progression, and projected roles, these are my early picks for the Preseason All-LVLA First Team. Look for these players to set the tone across the league from the opening whistle.   Attackmen   [player_tooltip player_id='171379' first='Luke' last='Rava'] - Palo Verde - Rava appears primed for his most productive season yet with the Panthers. His dynamic playmaking ability makes him a constant threat, and he has the upside to contend for the state lead in scoring and total points.   Scotty Lennox - Coronado - Lennox led the LVLA in points last season with 40. Look for him to produce at a similar, if not higher, level this year. Especially given the power he generates with his shot and how efficiently he can get to his spot.   Weston Schultz - Faith Lutheran - Schultz appears primed to take another step forward for the Crusaders this spring. He brings a diverse scoring package and has the counters to make defenders pay who try to shade him away from the middle.   Middies   Slater Salinas - Palo Verde - Salinas played a significant role in Palo Verde's title run last season. Expect him to present matchup problems for defenders throughout the year with his ability to create and finish.   Jason Koa Hernandez - Coronado - Hernandez looks poised to put an exclamation point on his high school career. His elusiveness makes him a constant threat in space, and by season's end, he should have no shortage of highlight-reel moments.   [player_tooltip player_id='125067' first='Tyson' last='Vickers'] - Vickers makes the move to the Cougars, and he appears well-positioned to flourish in their system. A true marksman with deep range, he can stretch defenses and should mesh seamlessly with their other perimeter threats.   Brody Rasmuson - Cougars Lacrosse - Rasmuson is another middie for the Cougars to keep an eye on. He gets downhill and lets it it go with confidence regularly.   Defensemen   Beau LaVoie - Bishop Gorman - Colorado Mesa commit Beau Lavoie returns for his senior campaign poised to anchor the group. His versatility allows him to impact the game in multiple phases, and in tight matchups, that flexibility should prove especially valuable.   Parker Hunt - Faith Lutheran - Hunt should play a key role in generating turnovers and helping Faith Lutheran neutralize opposing teams' top goal scorers.   DJ Rogers - Cougars Lacrosse - Rogers consistently makes his presence felt with punishing hits and momentum-shifting plays. Expect him to stuff the stat sheet for the Cougars, particularly in the ground ball and takeaway categories.   Jace Mims - Palo Verde - Mims should be a steady presence for the Panthers this year. He delivers physical, well-timed checks, defends under control, and makes smart decisions with the ball.   Goalie   Daniel Auon - Faith Lutheran - Auon returns to the cage for the Crusaders for a second straight season. He's extremely athletic for a goaltender and has the reaction speed to come up with highlight-level saves, giving his defense a trustworthy last line of support.   LSM   Merek Mastrov - Bishop Gorman - Mastrov emerged as one of the LVLA's true breakout players last season. He's among the more imposing defensemen in the league, and after putting up a respectable point total a year ago, expect him to see some offensive run again while still anchoring things on the back end.   Faceoff   [player_tooltip player_id='124875' first='Xander' last='Iway'] - Bishop Gorman - Iway will be pivotal to the Gaels' ability to control possession this season. The more draws he secures, the more offensive opportunities they'll generate. And in tight games, that possession advantage can be the difference.   SSDM   Nick Lahkdari - Palo Verde - Lahkdari is set to log plenty of miles for the Panthers this season. He plays a key role in jumpstarting their transition game, and he's equally reliable tracking back defensively when the situation calls for it.

Based on last season's body of work, offseason progression, and projected roles, these are my early picks for the Preseason All-LVLA First Team. Look for these players to set the tone across the league from the opening whistle.