Lenoir-Rhyne Picked as South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Preseason Favorite; Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears have been picked as the preseason favorite in the South Atlantic Conference preseason men's lacrosse poll, announced by the league office today (January 25). The league's head coaches gave the Bears seven first places votes and a total of 77 points.
Limestone was voted No. 2 in the poll with one first place vote and 71 points, while Wingate followed with the remaining two first place votes and 70 points. Newberry came in fourth with 57 points, and Anderson took the No. 5 spot with 50 points.
Lincoln Memorial was voted No. 6 with 37 points and Catawba followed closely behind at No. 7 with 36 points. Tusculum came in at No. 8 with 18 points, while Coker and Mars Hill rounded out the poll tied at No. 9 with 17 points each.
The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason all-conference players. Wingate's Willie Grieco and Danny Riley and Limestone's Zachary Terry were named first team attackers.
Highlighting the midfield selections were first teamers Mike McGarry from Limestone, Will Canata from Lenoir-Rhyne, and Baker Westmoreland from Newberry.
Joe Karnich of Wingate was named the preseason first team long pole midfielder, while Wingate's Peyton Farley, Lenoir-Rhyne's Victor Powell, and Anderson's Peyton Jefferson earned preseason first team honors at defense.
Limestone's Tim Lander was selected as the first team face-off specialist while Anderson's Hunter Klosterman 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.
2024 Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Score
1 Lenoir-Rhyne (7) 77
2 Limestone (1) 71
3 Wingate (2) 70
4 Newberry 57
5 Anderson 50
6 Lincoln Memorial 37
7 Catawba 36
8 Tusculum 18
T-9 Coker 17
T-9 Mars Hill 17
2024 SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference
All-SAC First Team
A – Willie Grieco, Wingate
A – Danny Riley, Wingate
A – Zachary Terry, Limestone
MF – Mike McGarry, Limestone
MF – Will Canata, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Baker Westmoreland, Newberry
D – Peyton Farley, Wingate
D – Victor Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Peyton Jefferson, Anderson
LP – Joe Karnich, Wingate
Short-Stick Defensive MF - Colten McCracken, Lenoir-Rhyne
Face-off Spec. – Tim Ladner, Limestone
GK – Hunter Klosterman, Anderson
All-SAC Second Team
A – Radyn Badraun, Anderson
A – Scott Reed, Newberry
A – Carter Brand, Limestone
MF – Chris Erneston, Limestone
MF – Tommy Aguilar, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Curtis Bukta, Newberry
D – Jack Travassos, Newberry
D – Nick Arnold, Wingate
D – Nate Ashley, Lenoir-Rhyne
LP – Jack Beachley, Limestone
Short-Stick Defensive MF - Trent Connolly, Wingate
Face-off Spec. – John Paulus, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Rob Pensabene, Lenoir-Rhyne
All-SAC Third Team
A – Evan Voss, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Matthew Rodgers, Anderson
A – James Osorio, Newberry
MF – Garrett Hawkins, Anderson
MF – Austin Lamoureux, Limestone
MF – Joey Moran, Wingate
D – Michael Jensen, Coker
D – David Squires, Newberry
D – Joey Masson, Lenoir-Rhyne
LP – Michael Rogers, Lincoln Memorial
Short-Stick Defensive MF - Jason Madden, Limestone
Face-off Spec. – Colby Rogers, Newberry
GK – Ryan Erler, Newberry
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