SPARKS, Md. -- Bates junior Miles Schmidt is a USA Lacrosse Preseason Third Team All-America selection, as announced Tuesday by the venerable magazine. 

The face-off specialist and midfielder is coming off a sophomore season where he was named honorable mention All-New England by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Schmidt (Seattle) won 210 faceoffs in 329 chances last year, good for a face-off percentage of .638, the second-best in the NESCAC. Unlike some of his peers, Schmidt won the faceoffs himself a lot of the time, as he led the NESCAC with 7.69 ground balls per game.

More than just a face-off specialist for the Bobcats, he also tallied four goals (with a shots-on-goal percentage of .765) and dished out an assist.

Preseason All-Americans are selected by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors with input from collegiate coaches.

The Bobcats open the 2026 campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. on the road when they battle Union in Schenectady, N.Y.