2020 Contenders

[shaadb-man]

Is it just Lemoyne vs Limestone or can anyone catch these two?

I think after them there are two groups

1- The teams that return a lot of what they had and add a Fr class and possible transfers to help
Mercyhurst
Seton Hill
Queens
Rockhurst

2- The teams that lost a lot from what made them what they were but could have players step up or Fr coming in to take on those roles
Adelphi
Indy
Belmont Abbey
Mercy
Tampa
Wingate
Pace
Mount Olive

Can anyone in either of these groups step up and push the top 2?

[JBFortunato]

Is it just Lemoyne vs Limestone or can anyone catch these two?

I think after them there are two groups

1- The teams that return a lot of what they had and add a Fr class and possible transfers to help
Mercyhurst
Seton Hill
Queens
Rockhurst

2- The teams that lost a lot from what made them what they were but could have players step up or Fr coming in to take on those roles
Adelphi
Indy
Belmont Abbey
Mercy
Tampa
Wingate
Pace
Mount Olive

Can anyone in either of these groups step up and push the top 2?

Just browsing the team statistics for 2019, Florida Southern is an interesting case.
-Points per game: 2/50
-Scoring Offense: 5/50
-FO Win %: 14/50
BUT.
Scoring Defense: 42/50
Clear Percentage: Outside Top 50

The FSC coaching staff quietly put together a very impressive freshman class of offensive players last year, who will only improve over time. They came in and made an immediate impact this season, contributing in a significant way to an efficient and unselfish offense.
Apparently the incoming freshman class is loaded with talented (many of them hotbed) poles. If that is true, and they can get consistent goalie and faceoff play, they will be a force to be reckoned with for the next few years.

[D2fan]

US Lacrosse Magazine Way-Early 2020 rankings
https://www.uslaxmagazine.com/college/m ... ion-ii-men

1) Limestone
2) Adelphi
3) Le Moyne
4) Mercyhurst
5) Belmont Abbey
6) Tampa
7) Seton Hill
8) Mount Olive
9) Mercy
10) Queens

Overall a good prediction.

[PeteVenkman]

Very typical Lax Magazine prediction.

You forgot Rockhurst, who returns the ENTIRE team. You forget Indy, who returns a strong nucleus. You forget Wingate, who brings back a squad.

Top 10.

1. Limestone
2. LeMoyne
3. Queens
4. Adelphi
5. Rockhurst
6. Seton Hill
7. Mercy
8. Mount Olive
9. Wingate
10. Indy

[HoundsDad]

I was really surprise when UIndy was left off the top 10. After finishing 4th and having a great season and not make the top 10 makes you wonder. They did lose some really good Seniors, the return many players, and they did play several Freshman in some key roles with talent ready to replace those Seniors. Can't wait for the fall season to see how they look.

[bmorelax]

Pete,

Putting Rockhurst at 5 is a stretch, especially as you left out Tampa.
Wingate at 9 - maybe, but where do you rank Mercyhurst?

Anyway, cant wait for the Spring 2020 season to start - the top 15 in D2 are playing some good lacrosse!

[admin]

http://fanlax.com/fanlax/2019/07/31/d2- ... edictions/

[jakester]

Pete,

Putting Rockhurst at 5 is a stretch, especially as you left out Tampa.
Wingate at 9 - maybe, but where do you rank Mercyhurst?

Anyway, cant wait for the Spring 2020 season to start - the top 15 in D2 are playing some good lacrosse!

Pete also dropped did not include BA. IMO Mercyhurst and BA are higher ranked than Wingate. Tampa should be interesting this year.

[Laxwarrior]

Pete,

Putting Rockhurst at 5 is a stretch, especially as you left out Tampa.
Wingate at 9 - maybe, but where do you rank Mercyhurst?

Anyway, cant wait for the Spring 2020 season to start - the top 15 in D2 are playing some good lacrosse!

Pete also dropped did not include BA. IMO Mercyhurst and BA are higher ranked than Wingate. Tampa should be interesting this year.

Did their face off guy graduate? that is who kept them in games.

[Laxwarrior]

It should be interesting to see how limestone does next year. I think faceoffs and defense will be as good or better so that will help. need to replace offense

Negatives:
Graduated goalie Danny Forren who had a very good season. Only return a freshman
Will have to replace Andrew Martin, but they do return Collins/Werner/VanBrunt/Plank coming back with LSM Stouris
Graduated 6 of top 10 points leaders
-Seniors accounted for 114 goals and 99 assists (Huygue/Burns/Bennett/Moseman/Hommel/Hanley)
-underclassmen accounted for 191 goals and 85 assists (Sundown was 70 goals 40 assists) (Sundown/Walter/Papa/Logan)
Ponzio, who was switched to D middie for 2019, graduated and was an absolute stud

Positives:
Faceoffs, Kirsh-Downs and Parrott return
Sundow/Pappa/Walter return
Nelson Logan will be very good but need to replace both Huyghue and Bennett (48G, 61A) at attack
some very good sophomores coming back but not sure they will replace the 114 goals and 99 assists
Croster returns at d middie, developed nicely during 2019, I think Kellner will be moved to O middie
freshman dpoles Werner and VanBrunt had excellent season in 2019. Combined with Collins and LSM Stouris. Junior Matthew Plank developed throughout the 2019 season and by tournament times he was as good as anyone out there.

[RedFromMI]

For Stone I think they lose less than a lot of the others. Nelson Logan has great upside, and really saw limited time in his freshman year. It will be interesting to see if the Saints recruit out of the JUCOs this year, as they actually had only two rising juniors from last year's roster. That was where Sundown and Bennett came from, for example.

A few of the rising sophomores that saw some time last year to keep an eye for: Connor Hoch (M) and Garrett Winter (A).

Kellner will be good no matter where they put him. Crotser developed into a stout D-mid, and Stouros is a stud at LSM.

Scott Manning (senior this year) might get more time at A.

[RedFromMI]

Also, speaking about the Saints - Shayne Jackson, former Limestone Saints attackman, is tied for second place at midseason in goals scored in the MLL at midseason, just one (26 vs 27) behind Lyle Thompson...

He and former Saints FOGO Kevin Reisman made the all star game for the MLL.

[PeteVenkman]

See I have to disagree. Rockhurst may be a sleeping giant. They return 10 of their 12 leading scorers (their offense finished #1 in the country in 2019). They return both their Face-Off specialists (Zach Bodeau finished 2nd in the country this past year in FO%). They return their entire starting defense. This is a team that finished 12-4 in their 6th year with three of those losses by a single goal (Indy twice and Belmont Abbey - however, they did get blown out by Limestone). With Rockhurst you have a team that is primed to make a strong run. You're right though, let's see it all play out, this season is going to be a fun one.

For what it's worth, Tampa will yet again be a program to reckon with. Coach Ryan always has his team primed at the Hurst. Those squads will be a force per usual.

At the end of the day you have Limestone and LeMoyne and everyone else. However, I do think that a program like Rockhurst is a school that it's a mistake to sleep on, which is why they "sneak" into the top 5. Who knows?

Pete,

Putting Rockhurst at 5 is a stretch, especially as you left out Tampa.
Wingate at 9 - maybe, but where do you rank Mercyhurst?

Anyway, cant wait for the Spring 2020 season to start - the top 15 in D2 are playing some good lacrosse!

[shaadb-man]

I could easily see Rockhurst at 5 if they play a full d2 schedule and have enough top teams to play.

Think you have Queens, Mercy, and Wingate overrated

Mercyhurst, Belmont Abbey, Tampa underrated.

[Joe calkin]

Tampa has some new studs
My son is back from redshirted last season and will definitely bring a lot to the table on offense side
Great goalie and forgo returning

[HoundsDad]

About a month out before the season kicks off. Ready for an exciting season. Wondering how teams are looking? UIndy has a tough early schedule (Wingate and Mercyhurst) so we should see how good they are quickly. Lost some key players from last season so will be interesting to see who will step up.
Good Luck to all this season.

[jakester]

Tampa has some new studs
My son is back from redshirted last season and will definitely bring a lot to the table on offense side
Great goalie and forgo returning

Why are they playing FSC twice? Is one game a scrimmage? If not, then how will the results figure in the SSC standings and their playoff ranking?

[leeatu]

Tampa has some new studs
My son is back from redshirted last season and will definitely bring a lot to the table on offense side
Great goalie and forgo returning

Why are they playing FSC twice? Is one game a scrimmage? If not, then how will the results figure in the SSC standings and their playoff ranking?

The February game is a regular-season non-con game which will count only in the teams' overall record; the April game is a conference game and is the one that will be included in the SSC standings. Non-con games against conference mates is a common practice across all sports in D2. It helps reduce travel costs and it gives them another all-important regional game.

[Laxxal22]

Tampa has some new studs
My son is back from redshirted last season and will definitely bring a lot to the table on offense side
Great goalie and forgo returning

Looks like they picked a couple more: https://twitter.com/tyxanders/status/12 ... 2145592322

Jack Wood is an interesting addition. Committed to Brown after his freshman year as kids used to do. It wasn't going to work out and he filled a spot at Cuse as they were having some decommits. Even though I think he's an excellent/D1 caliber player, Cuse seemed like it'd be a tough spot for him to find consistent playing time especially after Scanlan's transfer. Has some very exciting skills and could be a great player as he learns and adjusts to the college game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9QZHd-VDdI&t=

[lacrossegenius]

Is it just Lemoyne vs Limestone or can anyone catch these two?

I think after them there are two groups

1- The teams that return a lot of what they had and add a Fr class and possible transfers to help
Mercyhurst
Seton Hill
Queens
Rockhurst

2- The teams that lost a lot from what made them what they were but could have players step up or Fr coming in to take on those roles
Adelphi
Indy
Belmont Abbey
Mercy
Tampa
Wingate
Pace
Mount Olive

Can anyone in either of these groups step up and push the top 2?

I think Indy is an obvious contender. With a final four finish last year in their 4th year as a program, we should expect them to keep getting better under great coaching. Also, their roster shows that they have offensive transfers from Tampa and lindenwood to help fill holes from last year +any new talent. Definitely something to keep an eye on.

Edit: They also beat canisius in a fall scrimmage