Conference Carolinas

Limestone Ranked First in Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Preseason Poll

1/29/2015 12:00:00 AM

High Point, NC – The defending national champion Limestone College men’s lacrosse team will begin the year as the preseason No. 1 in the Conference Carolinas Coaches’ Poll. The Saints, who captured the program’s third NCAA Division II National Championship with a 12-6 win over LIU Post back in May, are looking to claim their ninth straight Conference Carolinas regular season title and the eighth league tournament crown in nine years.

Limestone went 19-1 a season ago and returns two USILA All-Americans in junior midfielder Mike Messenger and sophomore faceoff specialist Kevin Reisman. Junior keeper Patrick Sheridan, the 2014 USILA Division II Goalkeeper of the Year, also headlines a strong returning class as do junior attack Kyle Rhatigan and senior defender Peter Papaleonti, both of which have been named Inside Lacrosse Third-Team Preseason All-Americans.

The Saints are 39-1 all-time in Conference Carolinas play and have won 29 consecutive regular season contests against conference opponents dating back to the 2009 season. Including postseason play, Limestone has a 41-game win streak against league members over that same span.

In only the second year of the University of Mount Olive men’s lacrosse program, the Trojans were ranked No. 14 in the Lax Power Division II Top 15 Poll and have been voted to finish 2^nd in the Conference Carolinas Coaches’ Poll. The Trojans posted an overall record of 13-3 and finished second in the Conference Carolinas regular season standings.

Mount Olive posted a first-round win in the conference tournament to advance to the championship game. Mount Olive returns four All-Conference Carolinas players from last year: attack Matt Shields, midfielder Nico Shewey, defender Luke Morris and goalkeeper Ross Bowman.

The Pfeiffer Falcons have been picked to finish third in the coaches’ poll after finishing 2014 in third place. Under second year Head Coach Jason Lange, the Falcons will look to overcome the loss of a talented senior class. However, the Falcons will have plenty of skilled players who are hungry to improve upon last year’s finish.

Leading the returners is senior Mike Triolo who has been named to the First Team All-Conference for each of the past two seasons and holds the school’s all-time record for ground balls. Joining him on the First Team All-Conference in 2014 was Claymore Wade. Tucker Hammock was the Falcons leader in goals (33), points (45) and shots (117) and made the Second Team All-Conference last year. David Lehman was also named to the Second Team a season ago after finishing second on the squad in caused turnovers and third in ground balls.

Belmont Abbey finished fourth in the poll followed by North Greenville and Lees McRae College respectively rounding-out the poll standings.

 

Conference Carolinas Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll 

(# Of First Place Votes in Parenthesis)