THE SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2016 MEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL & ALL-CONFERENCE

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Queens has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's men's lacrosse annual preseason poll, as voted by the League's head coaches, it was announced today by the League office.  The Royals picked up four first-place votes from the panel and 75 points as teams do not vote for themselves.

Lenoir-Rhyne came in at the No. 2 slot with five first-place votes and 70 points.  Wingate claimed the No. 3 position with 58 points, ahead of Coker, who finished fourth in the poll with 54 points. Mars Hill landed at No. 5 with 50 points, while Catawba's 30 points was good for No. 6.  Tusculum claimed the No. 7 position with 27 points as Lincoln Memorial collected 19 points to finish at No. 8.  Brevard rounded out the preseason poll with 18 points.

Wingate put a pair of attackers on the preseason All-SAC first-team in Ryan Vogrig and Austin Murphy.  Queens' Garrett Chan joined Vogrig and Murphy as first-team attacker honorees.

Coker had two student-athletes earn first-team midfielder honors as Josh Smith and Mike Martiello each earned the honor.  Mars Hill's Hunter Maggs wrapped up the first-team midfielder selections.

Collin Lett of Lenior-Rhyne was tabbed the preseason first-team long pole midfielder, while Mars Hill's Mike McKee, Brady Richardson from Lenoir-Rhyne and Drew Thompson of Wingate picked up preseason first-team defender honors.

Queens' Jonathan Page was the preseason first-team specialist and teammate Eric Dolan was tabbed the first-team goalkeeper.

The 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse schedule is set to get under on Saturday, Feb. 6.  The 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship is slated for April 26, 28 and 30 with quarterfinals at campus sites and the semifinals and finals at Queens University.

Rk    Team (first-place votes)               Points

1.     Queens (4)                                             75

2.     Lenoir-Rhyne (5)                                   70

3.     Wingate                                                  58

4.     Coker                                                       54

5.     Mars Hill                                                  50

6.     Catawba                                                  30

7.     Tusculum                                                27

8.     Lincoln Memorial                                  19

9.     Brevard                                                   18

2016 Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference 

All-SAC First Team

First Team

A- Austin Murphy, Wingate

A- Garrett Chan, Queens

A- Ryan Vogrig, Wingate

MF- Hunter Maggs, Mars Hill

MF- Mike Martiello, Coker

MF- Josh Smith, Coker

Long Pole MF- Collin Lett, Lenoir-Rhyne

D- Mike Mckee, Mars Hill

D- Brady Richardson, Lenoir-Rhyne

D- Drew Thompson, Wingate

Spec.- Jonathan Paige, Queens

GK- Eric Dolan, Queens

Second Team

A- Shane Wilson, Coker

A- Connor Kennedy, Catawba                                                                                 

A- Mike Hanlon, Lenoir-Rhyne

MF- Justin Stewart, Lincoln Memorial

MF- Anthony Alfonso, Brevard

MF- Nate Wade, Tusculum

Long Pole MF- Kyle Fleck, Lincoln Memorial

D- Mitch Chapman, Tusculum

D- Adam Oscienny, Queens

D- Robert Benjamin, Wingate

Spec.- John Hernandez, Lincoln Memorial

GK- Ryan Kearney, Mars Hill