Bryant picked second in NEC East in preseason poll
SOMERSET, N.J. – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team was selected to finish second in the Northeast Conference East Division in a poll of the conference's 10 head coaches, as announced Wednesday by the NEC office.
The NEC, which has added LIU, Merrimack and NJIT for men's lacrosse for 2020, sponsors the largest Division I men's lacrosse conference and is the first to institute a two-division alignment.
Hobart was a unanimous selection to finish first in the East Division, with Bryant second, Sacred Heart third and Merrimack and Wagner in a tie for fourth. Robert Morris was picked to take the West Division with six of 10 first-place votes. Saint Joseph's earned three first-place votes and was chosen second, while Mount St. Mary's garnered the other first-place selection and was picked third. NJIT and LIU rounded out the West Division rankings.
Bryant returns six All-NEC honorees from a year ago, including a first-team selection in junior attackman Marc O'Rourke (Hingham, Mass.), who surpassed the 100-point plateau as a sophomore. Sophomore Luke Caracciolo (Centreville, Va.) was the nation's top freshman goalie a year ago, ranking in the top 10 among all goalies nationally in save percentage and goals-against average. Bryant has the second-most wins in New England over the last 10 seasons with head coach Mike Pressler entering his 14th season in Smithfield.
The Bryant University men's lacrosse team begins its 2020 season – its 21st NCAA campaign and the 40th year of men's lacrosse in Smithfield – when the Bulldogs host Bucknell Sunday, Feb. 9 at noon at Beirne Stadium.
Tickets for the 2020 season at Beirne Stadium are available HERE.
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