WASHINGTON – Georgetown University's men's lacrosse team was picked to finish third in the league standings while junior Gibson Smith was named the 2020 BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. A unanimous choice as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Smith was joined on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team by senior Jake Carraway, also a unanimous selection.

The Hoyas, winners of back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament championships, were picked to finish third in the league standings by the head coaches of conference teams. Denver, the runner-up in both of the Blue & Gray's title runs, was picked first and earned four first place votes while Villanova was picked second and garnered the remaining two first place nods. Following the Hoyas in third, Providence was chosen fourth, Marquette fifth and St. John's sixth in the standings.

Gibson Smith, Jr., D, Pelham, N.Y.
•    2020 BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 2020 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team selection.
•    2020 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Second Team All-American.
•    Two-time BIG EAST Champion.
•    2019 Inside Lacrosse Third Team Media All-American, 2019 USILA Honorable Mention All-American, 2019 All-BIG EAST First Team Selection, 2019 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team honoree.
•    Hauled in 106 ground balls to go with 34 caused turnovers as a sophomore.
•    His 106 ground balls are the third most in a single season at Georgetown and the most for a non-faceoff specialist in school history.

Jake Carraway, Sr., A, Annapolis, Md.
•    2020 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team selection.
•    2020 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Honorable Mention All-American.
•    Two-time BIG EAST Champion.
•    2019 USILA Honorable Mention All-American, 2019 First Team All-BIG EAST, 2019 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
•    Selected to 2019 Tewaaraton Award Watch List.
•    Led the Hoyas with 88 points (57G, 31A) as a junior to tie the Georgetown program record for points in a season.
•    Tallied 57 goals in 2019 for the second most goals in a season in program history.
•    Sits in seventh place all-time at Georgetown with 179 (121G, 58A) points.
•    Ranks sixth all-time on the Hilltop with 121 goals.

Georgetown opens its 2020 season on Feb. 8 at Lafayette in Easton, Pennsylvania.