The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2017 Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll & All-Conference
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's men's lacrosse annual preseason poll, it was announced today by the league office. The League's head coaches gave the Bears seven first-place votes and a total of 77 points.
Queens was voted No. 2 in the poll with 69 points and one first-place vote, while Wingate was voted No. 3 with one first-place vote and 64 points. Tusculum came in fourth with 44 points, while Mars Hill and Lincoln Memorial tied for the No. 5 slot with 37 points. Catawba was voted No. 7 with 34 points and Coker's 31 points was good for the No. 8 position. Brevard finished poll with 14 points.
The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason all conference. Garrett Sadler of Queens, Lenoir-Rhyne's Mike Hanlon and Jeremy Sullivan from Wingate were named the first team attackers.
Dallas Wade from Tusculum was voted first-team mid fielder. Lenoir-Rhyne's Ben Corrigan was also added to the list and Daniel Godwin from Wingate wrapped up the first team mid fielder selections.
Collin Lett of Lenoir-Rhyne was named the preseason first-team long pole midfielder, while Wingate had two student-athletes earn first-team defender honors as Anthony Criser and Chris Gazzio received the honors. Queens' Ryon Bellamy wrapped up the first-team defender selections.
Catawba's Conner Eakes was the preseason first-team specialist and Wingate's Jacob Ormerod was named the first-team goalkeeper.
The 2017 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse schedule is set to get under on Saturday, Feb. 4. The 2017 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship is slated for April 25, 27 and 29 with quarterfinals at campus sites and the semifinals and finals at Queens University.
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Total |
| 1. | Lenoir-Rhyne | 77 |
| 2. | Queens | 69 |
| 3. | Wingate | 64 |
| 4. | Tusculum | 44 |
| 5. | Mars Hill | 37 |
| Lincoln Memorial | 37 | |
| 6. | Catawba | 34 |
| 7. | Coker | 31 |
| 8. | Brevard | 14 |
First Team
A – Garrett Sadler, Queens
A – Mike Hanlon, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Jeremy Sullivan, Wingate
MF – Dallas Wade, Tusculum
MF – Ben Corrigan, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Daniel Godwin, Wingate
D – Anthony Crisera, Wingate
D – Chris Gazzio, Wingate
D – Ryon Bellamy, Queens
LP – Collin Lett, Lenoir-Rhyne
Spec. – Connor Eakes, Catawba
GK – Jacob Ormerod, Wingate
Second Team
A – Austin Murphy, Wingate
A – Dima Ferriera, Mars Hill
A – Ben Boyd, Tusculum
MF – Adam Golia, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Nathan Stewart, Mars Hill
MF – Billy Kopsky, Lincoln Memorial
D – Nick Rizzieri, Queens
D – Gus Weber, Catawba
D – Ryan Benck, Lincoln Memorial
LP – Griffin Stechmiller, Queens
Spec. – Jonathan Paige, Queens
GK – Ryan Applegate, Catawba