Shawn Lyght is an American lacrosse player who represents the University of Notre Dame as a defenseman. On May 28, 2026, he became the first men’s defensive player to win the Tewaaraton Award, one of college lacrosse’s highest individual honours.
Before receiving that recognition, Lyght helped Notre Dame win the 2024 NCAA national championship and earned consecutive William C. Schmeisser Awards. His career also includes representing the United States internationally, serving as a national team co-captain and developing a leadership approach built around preparation and defensive accountability.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shawn Lyght |
| Hometown | Scotch Plains, New Jersey |
| University | University of Notre Dame |
| Playing Position | Defenseman |
| Jersey Number | 90 |
| High School | Seton Hall Preparatory School |
| Major Achievement | 2026 Tewaaraton Award |
| NCAA Championship | 2024 with Notre Dame |
Who Is Shawn Lyght in Notre Dame Lacrosse?
Shawn Lyght plays defense for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s lacrosse team. Originally from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, he attended Seton Hall Preparatory School before joining the university’s collegiate program.
According to Notre Dame’s official 2025–26 team roster, Lyght stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 200 pounds. Wearing No. 90, he developed into an important member of the team’s defensive unit during his first three college seasons.
His collegiate achievements include the 2024 NCAA national championship, multiple All-America selections, and two consecutive Schmeisser Awards. He also received ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year recognition in both 2025 and 2026.
Lyght’s competitive experience extends beyond university lacrosse. He represented the United States at the 2025 men’s U20 world championship and subsequently entered the country’s senior national team programme.
Why Did Shawn Lyght’s 2026 Tewaaraton Win Make History?
On May 28, 2026, Lyght received the men’s Tewaaraton Award, becoming the first defender to win the honour in the men’s competition.
The Tewaaraton Award recognises outstanding collegiate lacrosse players. Lyght’s 2026 victory marked the first time a men’s defender had received the honour.
He became the second Notre Dame men’s player to win the award, following Pat Kavanagh in 2024.
The historical distinction applies specifically to men’s lacrosse. Rachael Becker DeCecco had previously won the women’s Tewaaraton Award as a defender in 2003.
Lyght’s recognition followed a junior season in which he again earned first-team All-America honours, received ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year recognition and won his second consecutive William C. Schmeisser Award.
His performances formed part of Notre Dame’s run to the 2026 NCAA national championship game. Although the Fighting Irish finished as runners-up, his individual achievements established a significant milestone for defensive players in collegiate men’s lacrosse.
How Shawn Lyght Developed at Seton Hall Prep
Lyght’s development began in New Jersey, where he attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and competed as a leading member of its lacrosse programme.
He served as team captain and earned both New Jersey Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2023.
Alongside his school commitments, he played club lacrosse for Leading Edge Elite, gaining further competitive experience before entering Notre Dame.
His athletic background was not limited to lacrosse. Basketball was another important part of his development, particularly in building the movement and footwork required for defensive play.
Lyght explained in a September 2026 Captains & Coaches Podcast interview that basketball helped him develop the footwork he now relies on when marking opponents in lacrosse.
He also spoke about the advantages of playing different sports during childhood. Moving between basketball and lacrosse gave him breaks from concentrating exclusively on one discipline while allowing him to develop skills that transferred between them.
His high school years included academic recognition. He graduated cum laude from Seton Hall Prep and received the Archbishop Thomas A. Boland Award.
By the time he entered Notre Dame, he had already established a record of defensive achievement, team leadership, and competitive experience at school and club level.
Shawn Lyght’s 2024 NCAA Championship and Notre Dame Breakthrough
Lyght made an immediate contribution during his freshman season at Notre Dame in 2024.
He started all 17 games, recording 19 ground balls and six caused turnovers. Establishing himself in the starting defensive unit during his first collegiate season gave him an important role in one of Notre Dame’s most successful campaigns.
The Fighting Irish finished with a 16–1 record and won the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse national championship.
His performances also earned individual recognition. He was named a USILA second-team All-American and selected for the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.
These honours placed him among the recognised defenders in collegiate lacrosse before the end of his freshman year.
Consecutive Schmeisser Awards and Defensive Performances
Lyght’s defensive recognition increased during his sophomore season in 2025.
He appeared in 13 games, collected 19 ground balls and caused seven turnovers. Despite playing fewer games than in his freshman campaign, he earned first-team All-America recognition.
He was also named ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and became a co-recipient of the William C. Schmeisser Award, presented to an outstanding collegiate men’s lacrosse defenseman.
His junior season in 2026 brought further achievements.
Across 16 appearances, he recorded 26 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. He received another first-team All-America selection and was again recognised as ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Most notably, he earned his second consecutive Schmeisser Award.
Ground balls and caused turnovers provide measurable indicators of defensive contributions, but they do not capture every responsibility assigned to a defender. Limiting an opponent’s opportunities, positioning, and communication within the defensive unit are also important aspects of the role.
During the 2026 NCAA championship tournament, Lyght faced difficult individual matchups against established attacking players.
Following Notre Dame’s semifinal against Syracuse on May 23, he discussed the challenge of defending Joey Spallina during a press conference. He acknowledged Spallina’s attacking ability while crediting Notre Dame goalkeeper Thomas Ricciardelli for his contribution.
Notre Dame teammate Josh Yago also contributed to the team’s 2026 NCAA championship-game run, leading the Fighting Irish in points and assists.
The Fighting Irish subsequently reached the national championship game, marking another deep NCAA tournament run during Lyght’s collegiate career.
Shawn Lyght’s Leadership with USA Lacrosse
In 2025, Lyght represented the United States men’s U20 national team and was appointed one of its co-captains.
On August 15, 2025, USA Lacrosse announced that he and Colin Kurdyla would serve as co-captains for the World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship in South Korea.
The competition brought together leading young players from different countries. Lyght helped the United States reach the championship final, where Canada secured a 6–5 victory on August 24.
The result gave the American team a silver medal.
His involvement with USA Lacrosse also contributed to his technical development. In June 2025, USA Lacrosse Magazine reported Lyght’s account of learning to use his stick with his less dominant hand while practising defensive techniques during national team training.
Later in 2025, he entered the United States men’s senior national team programme, participating in a training camp during the autumn.
USA Lacrosse subsequently identified him among the players selected for the 2026 Pan-American Men’s Championship in Kingston, Jamaica.
His progression from U20 co-captain to senior national team involvement added an international dimension to a collegiate career already recognised through NCAA and ACC honours.
What Shawn Lyght Has Said About Defense and Leadership
Lyght has discussed his approach to leadership, defensive preparation and personal development in several public interviews.
During his September 4, 2026 appearance on the Captains & Coaches Podcast, he described himself as a quieter leader who initially concentrated on understanding Notre Dame’s defensive systems.
Rather than attempting to direct every conversation, he focused on preparing consistently and earning the confidence of teammates through his actions.
As his responsibilities developed, communication became a larger part of his role.
He explained that Notre Dame’s defensive players try to acknowledge mistakes quickly and address specific problems without making criticism personal. According to Lyght, this approach supports accountability and trust within the defensive unit.
His comments also connected leadership with experiences from earlier in his playing career.
Lyght recalled that his father, Eric Lyght, encouraged him not to lower his head after conceding a goal during his school years. The advice centred on maintaining composure and concentrating on the next play rather than remaining focused on an unsuccessful defensive moment.
Sporting experience runs through his family. Notre Dame’s official biography identifies his mother, Rose-Marie Lyght, as a former collegiate soccer player at Villanova University and his father as a former basketball player at Saint Anselm College. His sister, Corinne, played university soccer at Lehigh.
In addition to discussing family influences, Lyght has spoken about the importance of remaining adaptable as an athlete.
Lyght has explained that his years playing basketball shaped his movement as a defender, while switching between sports during childhood gave him a break from constant lacrosse practice.
Through his interviews, Lyght has described how defensive preparation, communication, and accountability influence his approach to playing. His explanations offer a useful perspective on the work behind his collegiate achievements.