LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Coming off a program-record fourth straight postseason appearance, the Bellarmine lacrosse team is certainly looking to take the next step during their 2026 campaign, which begins Monday at No. 11 Duke.
 
During the last four ASUN tournaments, the Knights have three times been one-and-done. Bellarmine has won just once in their current conference championship, that being a 14-13 quarterfinal defeat of Mercer in 2023 that was followed by a 17-14 loss to Utah. The Utes have eliminated the Knights in three of their four ASUN Tournament appearances, including last year after an 18-11 decision.
 
Still, optimism is high entering the program's 22nd season. Head coach Andrew Whitley returns one of the best players in the conference in senior John Alie, who has a solid support cast on the attack of a fellow senior and several returning sophomores. Preseason All-ASUN selection Christopher Reynolds is also back to anchor a defense that features Nolan Hudnut in the cage after a record-setting freshman year.
 
"This is a really exciting time in our program's history," said Whitley. "The senior class is poised to become the third consecutive class to graduate as the winningest class in program history. They will have to accomplish that feat competing against one of the toughest schedules we have assembled."
 
The schedule features an opener at Duke for the fourth straight season and games against four power-conference foes in all. In addition to Duke, the Knights will also make trips to No. 10 Ohio State (Feb. 10), No. 6 Notre Dame (Feb. 17) and No. 18 Rutgers (March 14). Bellarmine will also play just five home games at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium, the fewest under Whitley outside of the shortened 2020 season.
 
Despite the daunting slate ahead of them, Whitley is high on this year's squad, which brings back many essential pieces from the 2025 Knights.
 
"This team has embraced the challenge even crafting the moniker 'Earned, Not Given,'" Whitley said. "There is a lot of returning talent to be excited about as we return our top three scorers and six of our top seven point producers from the third-most-prolific offense in program history," Whitley said. "John Alie leads the way and has a chance to finish at or near the top of most career offensive categories."
 
Alie as a junior last year ranked 9th nationally (2nd in the ASUN) averaging 3.06 goals per game and 11th nationally (1st in the ASUN) averaging 4.53 points. His 77 points were the second-most in BU history and his 52 goals set a new BU single-season record. His 25 assists were tied for the fourth-most in program history. For his efforts on the field and in the class, the ASUN named him their Scholar Athlete of the Year for men's lacrosse.
 
Alongside Alie on the attack are senior Michael Blaymires and sophomores Ezra Moore, Leo Prosser and John's younger brother Joe Alie. Blaymires had a breakout junior campaign with 23 goals and 7 assists. Moore ranked 2nd on BU with 50 points, setting a new freshman program record previously held by Riley Seay with 39 in 2019. He tied John Alie for the team lead with 25 assists and was 3rd with 25 goals. He led all ASUN freshmen and ranked 44th nationally averaging 1.47 assists per game. Prosser registered 8 goals and 6 assists while the younger Alie was 2nd on the team behind his brother with 29 goals and third with 35 points. Additionally, Joe's .483 shot percentage ranked 6th in Division I.
 
On the other end of the field, Reynolds led the Knights with 15 caused turnovers and tied for 3rd with 32 ground balls. Other key returning defensemen include junior Matt Kirton (14 caused turnovers) and Nick Ferge (8 caused turnovers). Though he experienced some growing pains in his freshman year, Hudnut set a program record with 212 saves and will look to build upon his .499 save percentage that ranked 4th in the ASUN, though he was just two additional stops away from ranking 2nd.
 
"Defensively, the foundation returns from a unit that ranked 6th in program history in caused turnovers, Whitley said. "We continue to be strong in-goal, which is a staple of this program, and Nolan Hudnut has the potential to make a lot of noise on the national scene this year."
 
Perhaps the biggest personnel loss to graduation facing the Knights is at faceoff. Gone are Cole Messick (.560 faceoff win percentage) and Aidan Fearn (.495 faceoff win percentage). That duo took over 80 percent of BU's faceoffs in 2025. Returning contributors at the X are senior Grant Guthrie (.385) and junior Niko Madden (.375) though they saw limited action with 65 and 24 faceoffs, respectively.
 
"We have several great options at the faceoff X and I feel like we are as deep as we've ever been at that position. If that unit can top 50 percent this year, we will make a deep run in conference play," Whitley said.
 
Guthrie was an ASUN All-Freshman performer in 2023 and brings a career .445 faceoff win percentage with him into the 2026 season.
 
After an exhibition with Maryville was cancelled and the opener with Duke was pushed back, the Knights will likely be eager to see another team standing across from them rather than each other when they take the field Monday, especially with an opportunity to face a national powerhouse like Duke.
 
"The season is upon us and we've had a tremendous preseason," Whitley concluded. "Our kids are looking forward to challenging themselves against the very best in college lacrosse in pursuit of the ASUN championship!"
 
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