Men’s Lacrosse Debuts at No. 4 on USILA Preseason Poll
PERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 10, 2014) - On Monday, the LIU Post men's lacrosse team seized the No. 4 spot in the nation, according to the 2014 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division II Preseason Coaches Poll.
Reigning national champion Le Moyne, which defeated LIU Post in the first round of last year's NCAA Division II Tournament, came in at No. 1 on the list. The Dolphins claimed all 10 first-place votes and totaled 150 points.
Mercyhurst was second, followed by fellow Long Island institution Adelphi, with 138 and 127 points, respectively. Limestone (108 points) rounded out the Top-Five.
Last season, LIU Post stormed to an 11-3 overall record, and an untarnished 7-0 clip in East Coast Conference play. The Pioneers return nine of their 10 starters, and 27 letterwinners from the 2013 squad.
Among those returnees is 2013 ECC Rookie of the Year, sophomore attackman
Matty Beccaris (North Babylon, N.Y.). Beccaris led the offensive charge for the Pioneers with 35 goals and 15 assists for 50 points, which landed him in Top-10 in the conference in nine different statistical categories.
Senior defenseman
T.J. McAndrew (Randolph, N.J.) also makes his return to the green and gold after starting all 14 games a season ago. He was chosen to the 2013 USILA All-America second-team, and responsible for the third-most caused turnovers in the ECC and 10th-most in Division II with 27. McAndrew gained possession of 38 ground balls and added three goals for his efforts as well.
Head Coach
John Jez and the Pioneers open up the 2014 season on the road on Saturday (Feb. 15) in Charlotte, N.C. at Queens. The opening faceoff is slated for 2 p.m.
2014 USILA Preseason Poll
1. Le Moyne (10 First-Place Votes) - 150 Points
2. Mercyhurst - 138 Points
3. Adelphi - 127 Points
4. LIU Post - 117 Points
5. Limestone - 108 Points
6. NYIT - 96 Points
7. Seton Hill - 83 Points
8. Merrimack - 82 Points
9. Lake Erie - 69 Points
10. Dowling - 49 Points
11. Pfeiffer - 42 Points
12. Molloy - 33 Points
13. Tampa - 29 Points
14. St. Michael's - 25 Points
15. Chestnut Hill - 10 Points
Also Receiving Votes: Belmont Abbey, Bentley, Catawba, Colorado Mesa, Dominican, Lindenwood, Mars Hill, Queens, Saint Anselm, Wheeling Jesuit