Dooley Named Recipient of Inaugural Coach Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell men's lacrosse senior defender Matthew Dooley has been named the program's recipient of the inaugural Coach Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award, it was announced Tuesday.

Dooley, a senior defender, was selected by Cornell's players, coaches and staff as the individual on the roster whose teammates most aspire to emulate.

"

Matt Dooley is the prime example of how a Cornell Lacrosse player should operate," said head coach

Connor Buczek. "Matt is tough, consistent, hardworking and selfless. Since he stepped foot on campus his freshman year, Matt has done a tremendous job of organizing and leading our philanthropic efforts as a team. He believes strongly in making an impact not only on the field, but also in the community here in Ithaca. When Matt graduates and moves on with his life, he will have left this program and community better than he found it."

The Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award was established in January 2026 by family members, former coaches and friends of Coach Liam Gleason. The honor recognizes NCAA Division I men's lacrosse student-athletes who exemplify leadership, unwavering support for teammates and staff, outstanding sportsmanship and meaningful community involvement.

"Being a light in the world means spreading kindness, love, and positivity to those around you — helping dispel darkness and negativity," said Sue Gleason. "Simple acts of compassion can illuminate the lives of others and inspire them to do the same. Liam was that light in the world, and even though his physical presence is gone, his light continues to shine."

Each of the 77 Division I men's lacrosse programs selected one recipient at the conclusion of the 2026 season. Dooley is among the inaugural class of honorees.

2026 Coach Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award Recipients

Kennedy Gleason

Air Force Academy : Nolan Parlette (Sr.) Goalie | Management

Bellarmine University : John Alie (Sr.) Attack | Finance

Binghamton University : Mason Shenk (Sr.) D-Mid | Finance

Boston University : Ethan Hart (Sr.) Midfield | Communications

Brown University : Trey Taylor (Sr.) Defense | Pre-Law

Bryant University : Zack Bender (Sr.) SSDM | Finance

Bucknell University : Louie Germain (Sr.) Defense | Political Science

Canisius University : Josh Verhagen (Sr.) Defense | Education

Cleveland State University : Justin Dalum (Sr.) Goalie | Business

Colgate University : Hunter Drouin (Sr.) Attack | Political Science

College of the Holy Cross : Will Messineo (Sr.) Midfield | Economics

Cornell University : Matthew Dooley (Sr.) Defense | Applied Economics and Management

Dartmouth College : Hopper Zappitello (Sr.) Attack | Government

Drexel University : Anthony Chiango (RS Fr.) Attack & Midfield | Business

Duke University : Aiden Maguire (Sr.) SSDM | Finance

Fairfield University : Jake Gilbert (Sr.) Attack | Finance

Georgetown University : Lucas Dudemaine (Sr.) Midfield | Finance

Hampton University : Canyon Steverson (Sr.) Midfield | Cyber Security- Criminal Justice

Harvard University : Jack Speidell (Jr.) Attack | Government

High Point University : Ryan Hynes (Sr.) Midfield | Finance

Hobart College : James Hamilton (So.) Defensive Midfield | Business and Entrepreneurship

Hofstra University : Jon Singer (Gr.) Goalie | Physical Education

Iona University : Jimmy Kennedy (Jr.) Midfield | Business

Jacksonville University : Jack Taylor (Sr.) Attack | Business

Johns Hopkins University : Eric McDonald (Sr.) Defensive Midfield | Political Science

Lafayette College : Zach Zukowsky (Sr.) Midfield | Economics

Lehigh University : Peter Theodoropoulos (Sr.) Midfield | Finance

LeMoyne College : Owen Wilson (Sr.) Attack | Business

Long Island University : Clif Hawkins (So.) Midfield | Health Sciences

Loyola University Maryland : Luike Murphy (Sr.) Midfield | Finance

Manhattan University : Andrew Giandonato (Sr.) Defense | Finance

Marist University : Drew Anderson (Sr.) Midfield | Business Administration - Finance Concentration

Marquette University : Andrew Bowman (Sr.) Midfield | Supply Chain Management

Mercer University : Matthew Burnside (Sr.) Midfield | Marketing

Mercyhurst University : Adam Schembri (So.) SSDM | Business

Merrimack College : Reid Betner (Sr.) Defense | Health Sciences

Monmouth University : Miles Edmiston (Sr.) Defense | Business

Mount St. Mary's University : Kevin Whitty (Sr.) Attack | Accounting

New Jersey Institute of Technology : Owen Mercado (Sr.) Dmid | Civil Engineering

Ohio State University : Griffin Liedel (Sr.) LSM | logistics management

Penn State University : Mark McKeon (Sr.) D-Mid | Accounting

Princeton University : David Smythe (Sr.) Midfield | Computer Science

Providence College : Jackson Coutu (Sr.) Midfield | Management major

Queens University of Charlotte : Zach Miller (Sr.) Attack | Business Management

Quinnipiac University : Ryan Downing (Sr.) LSM | Health Science Studies

Robert Morris University : Sam Colón (Sr.) Defense | News & Sports Communications

Rutgers University : Justin Lawler (5th Year / Grad) Midfield | Master's - Political Science

Sacred Heart University : Luke Catolico (5th Year / Grad) Defensive Midfield | Finance

Saint Joseph's University : Liam Quinn (Sr.) Defense | Finance

Siena University : RJ Ihlefeld (Sr.) Long Stick Midfielder (Captain) | Business

St. Bonaventure University : Patrick Shanahan (Jr.) Attack | Biology

St. John's University : Joey Asterino (Jr.) Attack | Business

Stony Brook University : Robbie Smith (Sr.) Face-off | Business

Syracuse University : Michael Ippoliti (Jr.) Goalie | Finance

The University of Utah : Nikko Diponio (Sr.) Defense | Communications

Towson University : Ryan Schrier (Sr.) Attack/Midfield | Economics

UMass Amherst : Blaise New (Jr.) D-Mid | Finance

UMass Lowell : Colby Frigon (Jr.) Attack | Criminal Justice

University at Albany : Max Neeson (Sr.) Defense | Human Development & Counseling Psychology

University of Delaware : Jason Kolar (5th) Midfield | International Business

University of Denver : Watt Muir (So.) Attack | Finance

University of Detroit Mercy : Danton Molotky (Sr.) Midfield | Business

University of Maryland : AJ Larkin (Sr.) Long stick midfielder | Communication

University of Maryland, Baltimore County : Dante Marinello (Sr.) Defense | Financial Economics

University of Michigan : John Morgan (Gr.) Attack | Sport Management

University of North Carolina : Grant Pierce (Sr.) LSM | Communications

University of Notre Dame : Fisher Finley (Grad.) Midfield

University of Pennsylvania : Matthew Till (Jr.) LSM | PPE, concentrating on Choice and Behavior

University of Richmond : Jack Ricciardi (Sr.) Attack | Accounting

University of Vermont : Ryker Demarest (Sr.) Defense

University of Virginia : Truitt Sunderland (Sr.) Attackman | Media Studies

US Military Academy West Point : Sean Byrne (Sr.) Goalie

US Naval Academy : Race Ripley (Sr.) Attack | Quantitative Economics

Villanova University : Jack Gormley (Jr.) Defense | Economics

Virginia Military Institute : Cole Jones (Sr.) Midfielder | International Studies

Wagner College : Jacob Wood (So.) Defense | Finance

Yale University : George Northup (Jr.) Goalie