CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — Notre Dame defender Shawn Lyght was named the winner of the 2026 William C. Schmeisser Award as the nation's top defensive lacrosse player, claiming the honor for the second consecutive season. Lyght is only the eighth player to win the award in back-to-back seasons and the second Notre Dame player to accomplish the feat.

The William C. Schmeisser Award is presented annually to the best defensive player in college lacrosse. Lyght first won the award in 2025 and repeated in 2026, becoming one of only a handful of players in the award's history to win it in consecutive years.

The previous Notre Dame player to win the Schmeisser Award in consecutive seasons was Matt Landis, who took the honor in 2015 and 2016. Five Notre Dame players have won the award overall, making the program one of the most decorated in the award's history.

In addition to the Schmeisser Award, Lyght was also named a first-team All-American. He recorded 10 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls during the 2026 season, totals that reflect his contributions on the defensive end for Notre Dame.

Lyght's back-to-back recognition places him in rare company. Only seven other players have won the Schmeisser Award in consecutive seasons before him, underscoring the difficulty of sustaining elite defensive performance at the college level.

Notre Dame faces the No. 6 seed Syracuse Orange in the lacrosse Final Four on Saturday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. ET in Charlottesville, Va. The game will be televised on ESPN2.