University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Duffy, Wambach Named USA Lacrosse Preseason First Team All-America
January 20, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
SPARKS, Md. - The North Carolina men's lacrosse duo of Owen Duffy and Brady Wambach were named Preseason First Team All-America, USA Lacrosse announced Tuesday morning.Â
In addition to the Tar Heel tandem on the first team, Dominic Pietramala (Second Team) and Ty English (Honorable Mention) also earned preseason honors in the announcement.Â
Duffy ranked second on the Tar Heels with 34 goals a year ago, leading Carolina with 27 assists and 61 points. Duffy scored three-or-more goals in eight games last spring, and posted five-or-more points in eight contests. The East Quogue, N.Y. product finished the regular season second in the ACC in assists per game (2.0/game) and third in points per game (4.25/game).
Wambach, who's finished last year fourth nationally in faceoff winning percentage (.643), became the first Tar Heel faceoff specialist to earn first team All-America honors since R.G. Keenan in 2012. The Pittsford, N.Y. product recorded double-digit faceoff wins in 14 games last spring, as well as 10-or-more ground balls in five contests. Wambach's 225 faceoff wins last year was the third-most by a Tar Heel in a single season.Â
Pietramala, who led Carolina and the ACC last season with 48 goals, earned ACC and national postseason recognition for the first time in his career in 2025. The Tar Heel attackman scored a hat trick in 10 games, highlighted by six-goal efforts on the road at No. 4 Johns Hopkins and No. 10 Syracuse. The Lutherville, Md. native's 48 goals scored a year ago ranked third all-time in single-season goals in program history.Â
English, a do-it-all midfielder for Carolina, appeared in all 15 games during the 2025 campaign, earning the start in 14 contests. Voted a team captain in the fall prior to the 2026 campaign, English finished last season with 20 goals, third-best on the Tar Heels. The Burlington, Ontario product scored a goal in 12 games in 2025, including seven multi-goal performances.Â
Carolina opens the 2026 campaign on the road at Towson on Feb. 1.Â
In addition to the Tar Heel tandem on the first team, Dominic Pietramala (Second Team) and Ty English (Honorable Mention) also earned preseason honors in the announcement.Â
Duffy ranked second on the Tar Heels with 34 goals a year ago, leading Carolina with 27 assists and 61 points. Duffy scored three-or-more goals in eight games last spring, and posted five-or-more points in eight contests. The East Quogue, N.Y. product finished the regular season second in the ACC in assists per game (2.0/game) and third in points per game (4.25/game).
Wambach, who's finished last year fourth nationally in faceoff winning percentage (.643), became the first Tar Heel faceoff specialist to earn first team All-America honors since R.G. Keenan in 2012. The Pittsford, N.Y. product recorded double-digit faceoff wins in 14 games last spring, as well as 10-or-more ground balls in five contests. Wambach's 225 faceoff wins last year was the third-most by a Tar Heel in a single season.Â
Pietramala, who led Carolina and the ACC last season with 48 goals, earned ACC and national postseason recognition for the first time in his career in 2025. The Tar Heel attackman scored a hat trick in 10 games, highlighted by six-goal efforts on the road at No. 4 Johns Hopkins and No. 10 Syracuse. The Lutherville, Md. native's 48 goals scored a year ago ranked third all-time in single-season goals in program history.Â
English, a do-it-all midfielder for Carolina, appeared in all 15 games during the 2025 campaign, earning the start in 14 contests. Voted a team captain in the fall prior to the 2026 campaign, English finished last season with 20 goals, third-best on the Tar Heels. The Burlington, Ontario product scored a goal in 12 games in 2025, including seven multi-goal performances.Â
Carolina opens the 2026 campaign on the road at Towson on Feb. 1.Â
Players Mentioned
Attackman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defensive Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attackman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Faceoff
/ Men's LacrosseChecking In with Hubert Davis - January 20, 2026
Tuesday, January 20
UNC Women's Basketball: Tar Heels Pick Up Win at Florida State, 82-55
Monday, January 19
WBB: Post-Florida State Press Conference - Jan. 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18
UNC Wrestling: #12 Carolina Controls Virginia, 25-10
Saturday, January 17