Defending South Atlantic Conference Champions Earn Top Spot in 2022 Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

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 107 points.

Wingate was voted No. 2 in the poll taking the remaining four first place votes with 104 points, while Queens was voted No. 3 with 85 points. Limestone came in fourth with 84 points, and Newberry took the No. 5 spot with 80 points. Catawba was voted No. 6 with 64 points and Anderson followed closely behind at No. 7 with 52 points. Coming in at No. 8 with 43 points was Coker, followed by Tusculum at No. 9 with 40 points. Rounding us out this year is Mars Hill at No. 10 with 36 points and Lincoln Memorial at No. 11 with 20 points. 

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason all-conference players. Bobby Padden and Willie Grieco from Wingate and Myles Moffat from Lenoir-Rhyne were named first team attackers.

Highlighting the midfield selections were first teamers Austin Leonard from Queens, Danny Riley from Wingate and Bryce Reece from Lenoir-Rhyne.  

Tim Roesler of Newberry was named the preseason first team long pole midfielder, while Lenoir-Rhyne's Victor Powell was named a first team defender. Also earning preseason first team honors at defense were Payton Leonard from Catawba and Bennett Smith from Queens.

Lenoir-Rhyne's Mitchell Linklater and teammate Noah Johnson were named to the specialist accolades at Short-Stick defensive midfielder and goalie respectively. Anderson's Cam Weeks rounded out the first team as a face-off specialist. 

The 2022 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse schedule is set to start at the end of January.  The 2022 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship is scheduled for April 26, 29 and May 5 with quarterfinals at campus sites and the semifinals and finals at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

2022 Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

Rank School (First Place Votes)   Points

1       Lenoir-Rhyne (7)                       107

2       Wingate (4)                                104

3       Queens                                        85

4       Limestone                                    84

5       Newberry                                     80

6       Catawba                                       64

7       Anderson                                      52

8       Coker                                            43

9       Tusculum                                      40

10    Mars Hill                                        36

11    Lincoln Memorial                           20

2022 SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference

All-SAC First Team

A – Bobby Padden, Wingate

A – Willie Grieco, Wingate

A – Myles Moffat, Lenoir-Rhyne

MF – Austin Leonard, Queens

MF – Danny Riley, Wingate

MF – Bryce Reece, Lenoir-Rhyne

D – Victor Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne

D – Payton Leonard, Catawba

D – Bennett Smith, Queens

LP – Tim Roesler, Newberry

Short-Stick Defensive MF - Mitchell Linklater, Lenoir-Rhyne

Face-off Spec. – Cam Weeks, Anderson

GK – Noah Johnson, Lenoir-Rhyne

All-SAC Second Team

A – Kealan Pilon, Queens

A – Scott Reed, Newberry

A – Adam Vodovnik, Wingate

MF – Ryley Zopfi, Anderson

MF – Garrett Hawkins, Anderson

MF – Zac Carrigan, Mars Hill

D – Mike Dilegge, Wingate

D – Steve Werner, Limestone

D – Kendall Collins, Limestone

LP – Tyler Wright, Limestone

Short-Stick Defensive MF - AJ Lohmuller, Wingate

Face-off Spec. – Alex Alonso, Queens

GK – William Baxter, Limestone

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