University of Denver sophomore goalie Grayson Manning was named the 2026 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, according to an announcement by the conference office on April 29. The selection was made through a unanimous vote by the league’s head coaches.
The recognition highlights Manning’s performance throughout his sophomore season, where he has led the country in save percentage at 61.6 percent and earned six BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week awards. Manning is also ranked eighth nationally in goals against average and fifth in saves per game. He is currently just twelve saves away from tying Denver’s single-season record.
Alongside Manning, redshirt junior close defenseman Russell Overly was named to the BIG EAST First Team. Overly has contributed significantly to Denver’s defensive efforts, helping limit opponents to an average of 8.54 goals per game—placing them among the top five teams nationally for scoring defense. His tally of forty-five ground balls this season ties him for tenth place in program history for single-season ground balls by a pole.
Other Pioneers recognized include redshirt junior Cody Malawsky, sophomore Gordon Reynolds, and junior Marek Tzagournis, who were all selected for the BIG EAST Second Team. Malawsky reached one hundred career points after scoring five goals on Friday and became only the twelfth fastest Pioneer to achieve this milestone in forty-two games. Reynolds started all thirteen games at close defense and recorded fourteen ground balls with ten turnovers forced, while Tzagournis led Denver with thirty-eight points this season including nineteen goals and nineteen assists.
Looking ahead, Denver will compete in Providence at the 2026 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship this weekend, facing Georgetown in Thursday’s semifinal match scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time start.
