University of Massachusets Athletics
October 28, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse has selected senior midfielders Jimmy Elliott, Dylan Johnson and Blaise New, senior attackman Charles Kurtz and junior goalkeeper Owen Salanger as its captains for the upcoming 2027 campaign. The group has combined for more than150 games played for the Gorillas.
"Every individual in this group is very deserving of the honor of serving as a captain for our program," said UMass head coach Kyle Smith. "These individuals help create and foster a standard amongst the team. We feel strongly about the leadership throughout the team and these five will not do it alone but will set the tone for our group."
Elliott has appeared in 35 games over his career including a career-best 16 last season as a junior. He has four career points to his credit, 49 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers and is a native of Boonton Township, New Jersey.
Johnson is coming off a breakout year after missing all of 2025 due to injury. Last season the Pomfret, Connecticut native logged 33 points on 25 goals and eight assists, including seven multi-goal games and five with three goals or more.
Kurtz earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 recognition last season after leading UMass in goals (27) and finishing third in points (36). In addition, the Cheshire, Connecticut native logged a career best nine assists during his junior campaign and had two game winners, four man-up tallies and six ground balls. He enters his senior season with 52 career points over 39 games on 37 goals and 15 assists.
New, a 2026 team co-captain, missed the majority of the 2026 season due to injury but was a Second Team All-New England honoree in 2025 and an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection in 2024. To date the Bedford, New York, native has seven points (2g, 5a) over 32 career games with 49 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.
Salanger has been a fixture in between the pipes in his first two seasons in a UMass uniform and has earned his place among the nation's best goalkeepers. In 2026, he was tabbed an Honorable Mention All-American for a second straight season, was the Atlantic 10's Goalkeeper of the Year, an All-New England First Team and Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference honoree all while earning a CSC Academic All-District Men's At-Large selection for his work in the classroom. The Liverpool, New York native started all 16 games last season for a total of 948:12 and made 223 saves on 589 shots faced. Salanger logged a 10.57 goals-against average and a .572 save percentage and finished the season ranked seventh nationally in save percentage and third in the nation in saves per-game (14.00). Thus far in a UMass uniform he has played in 31 career games, making 30 starts for over 1,760 minutes. Holds a career 10.01 GAA and a .569 save percentage with 388 saves to his credit.
"Every individual in this group is very deserving of the honor of serving as a captain for our program," said UMass head coach Kyle Smith. "These individuals help create and foster a standard amongst the team. We feel strongly about the leadership throughout the team and these five will not do it alone but will set the tone for our group."
Elliott has appeared in 35 games over his career including a career-best 16 last season as a junior. He has four career points to his credit, 49 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers and is a native of Boonton Township, New Jersey.
Johnson is coming off a breakout year after missing all of 2025 due to injury. Last season the Pomfret, Connecticut native logged 33 points on 25 goals and eight assists, including seven multi-goal games and five with three goals or more.
Kurtz earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 recognition last season after leading UMass in goals (27) and finishing third in points (36). In addition, the Cheshire, Connecticut native logged a career best nine assists during his junior campaign and had two game winners, four man-up tallies and six ground balls. He enters his senior season with 52 career points over 39 games on 37 goals and 15 assists.
New, a 2026 team co-captain, missed the majority of the 2026 season due to injury but was a Second Team All-New England honoree in 2025 and an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection in 2024. To date the Bedford, New York, native has seven points (2g, 5a) over 32 career games with 49 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.
Salanger has been a fixture in between the pipes in his first two seasons in a UMass uniform and has earned his place among the nation's best goalkeepers. In 2026, he was tabbed an Honorable Mention All-American for a second straight season, was the Atlantic 10's Goalkeeper of the Year, an All-New England First Team and Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference honoree all while earning a CSC Academic All-District Men's At-Large selection for his work in the classroom. The Liverpool, New York native started all 16 games last season for a total of 948:12 and made 223 saves on 589 shots faced. Salanger logged a 10.57 goals-against average and a .572 save percentage and finished the season ranked seventh nationally in save percentage and third in the nation in saves per-game (14.00). Thus far in a UMass uniform he has played in 31 career games, making 30 starts for over 1,760 minutes. Holds a career 10.01 GAA and a .569 save percentage with 388 saves to his credit.
Players Mentioned
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