Defending South Atlantic Conference Champions Earn Top Spot In 2023 Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll; Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne has been picked to finish first in the South Atlantic Conference preseason men's lacrosse poll, which was announced by the league office today. The League's head coaches gave the Bears seven first place votes and a total of 79 points.
Limestone was voted No. 2 in the poll with two first place votes and 72 points, while Wingate was voted No. 3 with the final first place vote and 68 points. Newberry came in fourth with 56 points, and Anderson took the No. 5 spot with 47 points. Catawba was voted No. 6 with 36 points and Tusculum followed closely behind at No. 7 with 35 points. Coker came in at No. 8 with 24 points, and rounding us out this year is Lincoln Memorial at No. 9 with 18 points and Mars Hill at No. 10 with 15 points.
The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason all-conference players. Wingate's Willie Grieco, Lenoir-Rhyne's Myles Moffat, and Anderson's Logan Gaddis were named first team attackers.
Highlighting the midfield selections were first teamers Toron Eccleston from Lenoir-Rhyne, Baker Westmoreland from Newberry, and Danny Riley from Wingate.
Nathan Allan of Coker was named the preseason first team long pole midfielder, while Lenoir-Rhyne's Victor Powell, Wingate's Peyton Farley, and Anderson's Peyton Jefferson earned preseason first team honors at defense.
Anderson's Cam Weeks was selected as the first team face-off specialist while teammate Joey Heckel was named first team goalie. Lenoir-Rhyne's Colten McCracken was named first team short-stick defensive midfielder to complete the preseason first team awards.
2023 SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (7) 79
2. Limestone (2) 72
3. Wingate (1) 68
4. Newberry 56
5. Anderson 47
6. Catawba 36
7. Tusculum 35
8. Coker 24
9. Lincoln Memorial 18
10. Mars Hill 15
2023 SAC Men's Lacrosse All-Conference - PRESEASON
All-SAC First Team
A – Willie Grieco, Wingate
A – Myles Moffat, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Logan Gaddis, Anderson
MF – Toron Eccleston, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Baker Westmoreland, Newberry
MF – Danny Riley, Wingate
D – Victor Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Peyton Farley, Wingate
D – Peyton Jefferson, Anderson
LP – Nathan Allan, Coker
Short-Stick Defensive MF - Colten McCracken, Lenoir-Rhyne
Face-off Spec. – Cam Weeks, Anderson
GK – Joey Heckel, Anderson
All-SAC Second Team
A – Beau Henson, Anderson
A – Chris Erneston, Limestone
A – Nate Raymond, Tusculum
MF – Mike McGarry, Limestone
MF – Curtis Bukta, Newberry
MF – Tommy Aguilar, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Chase Robertson, Anderson
D – Jack Travassos, Newberry
D – Brock Strong, Newberry
LP – Nate Ashley, Lenoir-Rhyne
Short-Stick Defensive MF - Nathan Fraser, Tusculum
Face-off Spec. – John Paulus, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – John Caponi, Wingate
All-SAC Third Team
A – Joe Venazio, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Cal Gibson, Coker
A – Trevor Kennedy, Mars Hill
MF – Garrett Hawkins, Anderson
MF – Ryley Zopfi, Anderson
MF – Bryce Reece, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Jordan Sullivan, Lincoln Memorial
D – Ryan Morrison, Limestone
D – Dillon Ricketts, Lincoln Memorial
LP – Joe Karnich, Wingate
Short-Stick Defensive MF - Ashton Wilson, Lincoln Memorial
Face-off Spec. – Tim Ladner, Limestone
GK – Riley Semmes, Tusculum
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