RIT, which captured its first Liberty League title in 2012 - the Tigers' inaugural season in the league - has been selected by the coaches as the unanimous preseason favorite in 2013.
RIT selected as unanimous preseason favorite in Liberty League men's lacrosse
Defending champion RIT has been selected as the unanimous Liberty League preseason favorite in a vote of the league’s head coaches. The Tigers, who are ranked sixth in the USILA Division III preseason national poll, captured the 2012 league title in their first year as a member of the Liberty League.
RIT was picked first with 43 points and seven first-place votes. Union, which lost to RIT in last year’s championship game, was picked second with 33 points. The Dutchmen were also ranked 13th in the USILA preseason poll. St. Lawrence (30) and Clarkson (29) were also selected to finish among the top four.
RIT and Union, which both advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last season, will have to overcome some significant losses to graduation in order to remain atop the league standings. The Tigers lost Liberty League offensive player of the year and second team All-American Tyler Russell as well as third team All-Americans Jordan Collins Hartwig and Eric Horeth. Russell led the league in scoring with 53 goals last season. The Dutchmen must replace Liberty League defensive player of the year and first team All-American goalkeeper Sean Aaron and honorable mention All-American defenseman Matt Livingston. Both teams will count on their depth to overcome the loss of key performers.
RIT has four returning All-Liberty League selections in sophomore attack Brendan MacDonald, junior goalkeeper Anthony DeLeo, junior midfielder Taylor Wisman and senior defenseman Elliot Cowburn. RIT boasted the league’s top scoring offense with 12.95 goals per game, three more than the next closest team. MacDonald was the Tigers’ second-leading scorer as a freshman with 33 goals. Union returns junior attack Rob Santangelo, a first team All-Liberty League selection who led the Dutchmen with 49 points on 24 goals and 25 assists.
St. Lawrence, picked third in the Liberty League preseason poll and 20th in the USILA poll, had a strong bounce-back season in 2012. After going 0-6 in league play in 2011, the Saints went 4-2 last season, earning the third seed in the Liberty League tournament. St. Lawrence, which dropped a hard fought 10-9 decision to Union in the tournament semifinals, returns a strong nucleus of players led by All-Liberty League first-team selections Dave Hovey and Jake Wynn. Second team selection Pierson Fowler, the Saints’ leading scorer with 22 goals last season, also returns.
Clarkson, which earned the fourth seed in the Liberty League tournament last season, was picked fourth in the preseason poll. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Cole, a starter in all 15 games for the Golden Knights a year ago, ranked third in the league with a .587 save percentage along with a 7.75 goals against average. Sophomore attack Corey Herrington ranked third in the league in assists per game and fourth in points per game last season, best among rookies.
Liberty League teams open play on Saturday, February 23 with RPI, Vassar and Skidmore all hosting non-league opponents. Liberty League play opens March 23.
2013 LIBERTY LEAGUE PRESEASON MEN’S LACROSSE POLL:
1. RIT, 43 (7)
2. Union, 33
3. St. Lawrence, 30
4. Clarkson, 29 (1)
5. RPI, 19
6. Skidmore, 14
7. Vassar, 7
RETURNING ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE PERFORMERS FROM 2012:
CLARKSON
Ryan Cole, Sr., G (2nd)
Corey Herrington, So., A (2nd)
Matt McCabe, Sr., M (HM)
Brendon Shearin, Sr., M (HM)
RPI
Alex Castronovo, Jr., G (HM)
RIT
Elliott Cowburn, Sr., D (HM)
Anthony DeLeo, Jr., G (HM)
Brendan MacDonald, So., A (2nd)
Taylor Wisman, Jr., M (HM)
SKIDMORE
Mike Perlow, Sr., M (1st)
ST. LAWRENCE
Pierson Fowler, Jr., M (2nd)
Dave Hovey, Sr., A (1st)
Cam Scullen, Sr., SSS (HM)
Jake Wynn, Sr., LSM (1st)
UNION
Rob Santangelo, Jr., A (1st)
Alex Stone, Sr., SSS (HM)
VASSAR
Max Herman, Jr., A (2nd)