2023 Preseason Top 20

[D2fan]

1. Tampa- Return almost everything and add a bunch of transfers.
2. LR- Seemed to put it together late. Also gave Tampa their best playoff game.
3. Le Moyne- Can’t remember the last time Sheehan had a team not in the top 5. They lose a lot, but they always fill in with younger players.
4. Limestone- Storrier has the program heading in the right directions. Return a good chunk.
5. UIndy- Return almost their entire team. Stocks does a very good job getting the most out of the team.
6. Mercy- Would be higher, but have no idea who the next head coach will be.
7. Adelphi- No more NYIT or Dowling means they are the destination spot for LI transfers.
8. Wingate- Return the best attack man and midfielder in the country. Boyle needs to bring someone in who can win face-offs.
9. Mercyhurst- Were very young in 2022. Look to be returning 5 All Americans.
10. Rollins- Have done a ton of work on the transfer portal. Will they actually play a competitive OOC game?
11. Fla. Southern- Could return a good amount of 5th years. Can they be more consistent?
12. Wilmington- Fell flat on their face in the CACC championship. Look to be returning their entire offense. Could be a team that takes the next step into the playoffs.
13. Fla. Tech- Lose their entire defense and some key pieces but I can see them still competing.
14. St. Anslem- Lose a decent amount on defense, but bring back the Larsen twins so the offense should be pretty good.
15. Pace- This is where they usually sit for the entire year. Probably will beat up on a bad out of conference schedule and follow it up with multiple blowout loses to Adelphi and Le Moyne.
16. Lewis- Have steadily been building a quality program. I think they will move up by virtue of Lindenwood being D1.
17. Seton Hill- Lose virtually everything. But are usually a tough blue collar team.
18. Bentley- Were competitive with Adelphi towards the end of the year and look be returning a lot of key pieces.
19. Belmont Abbey- After starting 0-4, they finished 2022 10-1. They’re going to be the best in Conference Carolina, can they return to 2020 form?
20. Anderson- Best FOGO in the country, and a winning record in their 2nd year. I can see them continuing an upward trend.

[shaadb-man]

That's a pretty good list honestly. I think contrary to history and you may be correct about Lemoyne but I do have them lower, just don't think there is enough there for top5. Also I think you may be a year early on the Wilmington, they need to play a much better schedule. I do think both Lempyne and Wilmington will benefit from being in the north which has much less depth than the south and seems that we are trending to the south being much more successful moving forward.

[eclax42]

Very good list. I am very curious to see how Rollins fairs in the SSC this year. They have been excelling in the portal and collecting studs to try and beat Tampa so I am very curious to see how that match up goes this year. SAC is a dogfight after sending 3 teams to the postseason. With Queens gone, does Newberry come in and take that 4th spot? They are stockpiling talent and have been close to making that jump to the next level.

[Leonard Washington]

2 dark Horses to watch out for;

Frostburg State

Lander

[greatwhitenorth]

Very good list. I am very curious to see how Rollins fairs in the SSC this year. They have been excelling in the portal and collecting studs to try and beat Tampa so I am very curious to see how that match up goes this year. SAC is a dogfight after sending 3 teams to the postseason. With Queens gone, does Newberry come in and take that 4th spot? They are stockpiling talent and have been close to making that jump to the next level.

I agree with you on Newberry

[StuckinD2]

2 dark Horses to watch out for;

Frostburg State

Lander

I agree! I wouldn’t be surprised to see Frostburg start off in the Top 20 this year. This will also be their first year eligible for NCAA’s after serving their three year probation. Coach Gartelman and his staff seem to have done a good job filling some key needs brining in some defensive transfers as well as Drew Downing a key FO for Salisbury. On top of returning a lot of key pieces could be a year they sneak up on some of these guys!

[Bob Lawblaw]

2 dark Horses to watch out for;

Frostburg State

Lander

I agree re Frostburg. Lander, though, I think is a stretch.

[Leonard Washington]

Lander, though, I think is a stretch.

Is it because they are going into their 4th year and havent had a losing season thus far?

[lilax]

North
1- Adelphi
2- Mercy
3- Mercyhurst
4- Le Moyne
5- Seton Hill
6- Wilmington

South
1- Tampa
2- Lenoir Rhyne
3- Indy
4-Limestone
5- Rollins
6- Wingate

[D2fan]

That's a pretty good list honestly. I think contrary to history and you may be correct about Lemoyne but I do have them lower, just don't think there is enough there for top5.

The last time I thought Le Moyne lost too much to be a top 5 team was after 2015. They graduated 6 All-Americans including the Middie of the Year and lost most of their defense.

They went undefeated on their way to the 2016 National Championship. Their defense gave up less than 5 goals a game.

Sheehan has always had guys on the bench that break out later in their careers. Living in Upstate NY, I know he has talent to fill in.

[JPAtlantic]

US Lacrosse - Nike Pre-Season poll released:
1) Tampa
2) Mercy
3) Wingate
4) Mercyhurst
5) Adelphi
6) Limestone
7) Lenoir-Rhyne
8) UIndy
9) LeMoyne
10) Saint Anselm
11) Page
12) Seton Hill
13) Belmont Abbey
14) Bentley
15) Florida Tech
16) Colorado Mesa
17) Florida Southern
18) Newberry
19) Rollins
20) Chestnut Hill

[StuckinD2]

US Lacrosse - Nike Pre-Season poll released:
1) Tampa
2) Mercy
3) Wingate
4) Mercyhurst
5) Adelphi
6) Limestone
7) Lenoir-Rhyne
8) UIndy
9) LeMoyne
10) Saint Anselm
11) Page
12) Seton Hill
13) Belmont Abbey
14) Bentley
15) Florida Tech
16) Colorado Mesa
17) Florida Southern
18) Newberry
19) Rollins
20) Chestnut Hill

Where did you find this release? It doesn’t seem to be on their website or social media.

[greatwhitenorth]

assuming this list is legit - Mercy, Mercyhurst, Limestone and Belmont ranked too high.

[JPAtlantic]

US Lacrosse - Nike Pre-Season poll released:
1) Tampa
2) Mercy
3) Wingate
4) Mercyhurst
5) Adelphi
6) Limestone
7) Lenoir-Rhyne
8) UIndy
9) LeMoyne
10) Saint Anselm
11) Page
12) Seton Hill
13) Belmont Abbey
14) Bentley
15) Florida Tech
16) Colorado Mesa
17) Florida Southern
18) Newberry
19) Rollins
20) Chestnut Hill

Where did you find this release? It doesn’t seem to be on their website or social media.

USA Lacrosse Magazine arrived in mailbox.

[Pitt12]

assuming this list is legit - Mercy, Mercyhurst, Limestone and Belmont ranked too high.

Why?

[greatwhitenorth]

Limestone has lost key guys. Coaching change for Mercy and Belmont did not look strong in Fall ball.

[Der Henker 66]

Mercyhurst? Lost only 1 starter off a 11-5 team last year... had a strong fall ... played Robert Morris in the American Boy Fall Ball event in Cleveland

[D2fan]

Mercyhurst? Lost only 1 starter off a 11-5 team last year... had a strong fall ... played Robert Morris in the American Boy Fall Ball event in Cleveland

Looking at their roster they return a lot. 1st Team AA DMiddie, 2nd Team AA FOGO, Attackman and Defenseman, and their HM goalie.

Also return 2 other all-region players.

Close Defense returns everyone and Attack returns a 70 goal scorer and 55 goal scorer. Also leading midfield scorer. FOGO was above 70% so they will have the ball a lot.

But they lost their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th leading midfield scorers and they lost 2 AA's in Attackman Bryce Johnson and LSM Jon Scherer. I was told both graduated early.

Interested to watch them scrimmage RIT in 1 month.

[Der Henker 66]

Agreed the RIT game will be a good Barometer for them

Johson and Scherer did graduate early .... They have had tight Competition for the 3 Midfield spots and Johnson's Attack spot

[Pitt12]

Limestone has lost key guys. Coaching change for Mercy and Belmont did not look strong in Fall ball.

Got it. Limestone added some players also. Should be interesting.