Syracuse junior faceoff John Mullen is the first Atlantic Coast Conference lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week for the 2026 season.

The ACC announced the honors on Tuesday afternoon.

Duke's Max Sloat took the first ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors of 2026.

Syracuse, ranked No. 2 in the nation, defeated No. 16 Boston University 13-6 on Sunday in its season opener at the JMA Wireless Dome.

In earning the honor, Mullen won 73.7% of his draws (14 of 19) as well as eight ground balls.

He also put a goal on the scoreboard, eight seconds after Luke Rhoa scored in the third quarter to give the Orange a 10-4 lead.

Against the Terriers, Rhoa had two goals. Joey Spallina scored three times, while Wyatt Hottle, Payton Anderson and Michael Leo each had two. Bogue Hahn also added a score.

The Orange scored six goals on the possession that followed a Mullen faceoff win. He has been dominant in that role. Last season, Syracuse tallied 98 goals after Mullen won a faceoff.

This is the second career ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor for Mullen, who was named a second-team preseason All-American.

Syracuse next plays Saturday at home against Saint Joseph’s, with ACC Network Extra to televise the noon game. It will be the season debut for the Hawks. Their opener, scheduled for last weekend against NJIT, was called off for weather reasons.

It is the only game on the February schedule against an unranked team. After Saint Joseph’s, the Orange play No. 1 Maryland at home on Feb. 13, followed by road games at No. 13 Harvard on Feb. 21 and at No. 3 Princeton on Feb. 27.

The preseason honors continue for women’s lacrosse standouts Emma Muchnick and Coco Vandiver. Both were named to the Preseason All-ACC team on Tuesday.

Previously, Muchnick was named a second-team Preseason All-American by US Lacrosse magazine and Inside Lacrosse.

Both selected Vandiver as a third-team All-American.

The Syracuse women’s basketball team will return to action Thursday night against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The Orange are 18-4 overall and 8-3 in ACC play, tied for third place.

Louisville and Duke, both 11-0 in league action, top the ACC standings, followed by a trio of 8-3 teams: Syracuse, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State.

Four players are averaging in double figures for the Orange: Laila Phelia (14.6 points per game), Uche Izoje (14.2), Dominique Darius (13.1) and Sophie Burrows (10.8). Izoje is averaging 9.5 rebounds per game, good for fourth in the ACC.

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