Three Liberty League student-athletes from three conference schools were recognized with Academic All-America as members of the 2023-24 Men’s At-Large teams. A pair of student-athletes, graduate student Jake Erickson from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and senior Matthew Paolatto from Union College, were named to the second team. RPI junior Joseph Perry of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) was selected to the third team.
The 2023-24 Academic All-America® At-Large honorees, as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC), honor the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in academics and athletics. Eligible student-athletes must be a starter or significant contributor to their team, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and reach sophomore athletic and academic standing.
The At-Large teams honor those student-athletes who participate in sports that do not have their own specific CSC academic teams. The Men's At-Large program is comprised of athletes from 10 different Division III sports— fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. 23 from the conference were recognized with Men’s At-Large Academic All-District accolades in June (16 from lacrosse; 7 from golf). All three Men’s At-Large Academic All-America honorees representing the Liberty League are men’s lacrosse players.
Erickson was named an USILA Second Team All-American and earned a spot on the All-Liberty League Second Team following a season at RIT. He totaled career highs in points (105), goals (50), and assists (55) this year with the Tigers. He was one of only five players in RIT program history to eclipse 100 points in a season, his 105 was the third-highest single-season total ever by a Tiger. RIT advanced to the national title game and finished the 2024 season at the NCAA Division III runner-up. In grad school at RIT, Erickson carries a 3.76 grade point average while pursuing a master’s in business analytics. Last year, he graduated from Ithaca College with a 3.71 grade point average (Class of 2023).
Paolatto capped off a standout career at Union as the 2024 USILA Faceoff Player of the Year as well as USILA First Team All-America and All-Liberty League First Team honors. He won 71.1 percent (321-of-448) of his draws while scooping up a team-high 199 ground balls. He topped the conference in faceoff percentage and ground balls per game (11.06) while ranking second in total ground balls. Paolatto finished the 2024 campaign third in Division III in faceoff winning percentage and seventh in ground balls per game while setting Union single-season records in both categories. In three years with the Garnet Chargers, he won 771-of-1114 faceoffs (.692) and picked up 494 ground balls. He leaves Schenectasdy as the career leader in faceoff wins, faceoff percentage, and ground balls. Paolatto also contributed offensively this season with six goals and three assists for nine points. Academically, he graduated this June with a degree in economics and carried a 3.64 cumulative grade point average.
Perry had a standout junior campaign in the cage for RPI as the Engineers’ goalie was recognized as the 2024 USILA Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Outstanding Goalie. He also earned First Team honors from both USILA and the Liberty League. In the classroom, Perry holds a 3.81 grade point average as a Business Management major. He ended the season with a 17-3 overall record Engineers to go along with a 9.38 goals against average and .579 save percentage. Among Liberty League goalies, he was second in goals against average and save percentage. He was also second in saves and saves per game at 245 and 12.25 respectively. In Division III, Perry finished the year ranked 28th in save percentage and 30th in goals against average. He helped RPI win its first Liberty League title since 2010 and the Engineers advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.