Waldt, James, Mummau named Preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Two-time All-America selection and senior captain Gunnar Waldt (Freeland, Md.) has been named a Preseason Third Team All-American by Inside Lacrosse, headlining three Bryant University men's lacrosse players honored in the 2016 IL Face-Off Yearbook.

Already a two-time USILA Third Team All-American and two-time reigning Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Waldt returns to lead the Bulldogs between the pipes and is the only NEC player to be named on the top three Preseason All-America Teams. The Bulldogs also saw junior attack Tucker James (Essex Fells, N.J.) and junior defenseman Kyle Mummau (Carlsbad, Calif.) named Inside Lacrosse Preseason Honorable Mention picks.

Waldt enters the season as a three-time all-conference pick, finishing the 2015 campaign ranked inside the national top-20 in all three goalie statistics. His .578 save percentage ranked fifth in the country, while his 8.24 goals against average sat ninth and 11.11 saves per game were good for 17th overall. With 13 double-digit save outings, Waldt hit the 200-save mark on the year and anchored a Black and Gold defense ranked 10th in the nation. He enters his senior season ranked second in the program record books for career saves (574) and third for career wins (30).

A two-time all-conference pick and the team's top scorer from a season ago, James has posted back-to-back 50-point campaigns and ranked in the NEC's top-10 in goals per game (fourth), points per game (fifth), assists per game (eighth) and shots per game (10th) in 2015. The New Jersey native netted four hat tricks on the year, including a career-high six goals April 7 against Sacred Heart. He enters the season riding a 27-game points scored streak, good for sixth-longest in the nation and dating back to April 12, 2014.

The Bulldogs' top cover option, Mummau returns to anchor a staunch Bryant defense in 2016. An All-NEC First Team selection last spring despite suffering a season-ending injury in April, the California native picked up 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers in 10 games, leading the team's 10th-ranked defensive unit.

The Bulldogs open the 2016 season Feb. 6 at home against Manhattan College (1:00 p.m.).