Belmont Abbey Picked to Three-Peat in Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas men’s lacrosse coaches have selected Belmont Abbey to win its third-straight title in the 2023 preseason poll.
The Crusaders, who return reigning Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year Thomas Sullivan, collected 36 points with six first-place votes (teams are not allowed to vote for themselves). 2022 Conference Carolinas tournament runner-up Mount Olive was picked second with 28 points and the remaining first-place nod. North Greenville is a close third with 27 points while Barton was picked fourth with 23 points.
Chowan was picked fifth with 16 points followed by Lees-McRae (11) and Emmanuel (6).
The regular season gets underway on Saturday, Jan. 21 with the conference tournament slated to begin on conference sites on April 24. The semifinals and finals of the championship will be held April 27 and 29 at Mount Olive in Mount Olive, North Carolina.
2023 Conference Carolinas
Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
| School |
Total (First Place) |
| Belmont Abbey |
36 (6) |
| Mount Olive |
28 (1) |
| North Greenville |
27 |
| Barton |
23 |
| Chowan |
16 |
| Lees-McRae |
11 |
| Emmanuel |
6 |
2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Lacrosse
Players to Watch
Barton
- Mason Chaney, Sr., A, Dunkirk, Maryland (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas; 2019 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Mark Crawford, Gr., MF, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team; 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
- Ryan Santos, Sr., D, Raleigh, North Carolina (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
Belmont Abbey
- Thomas Sullivan, Sr., G, North Babylon, New York (2022 Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Most Valuable Player, USILA South Region Honorable Mention, USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American; 2021 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Most Valuable Player)
- Pat Doering, Sr., D, Alexandria, Virginia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament; 2021 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament)
- Jaydan Green, Jr., M, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Chowan
- Jaxon Martin, Gr., A, Jarvis, Ontario, Canada (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, USILA Scholar All-American, USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American)
- Eric George, Jr., A, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
Emmanuel
- Devon Roberts, Sr., MF, Elk River, Minnesota
- Ernest Hursey, So., MF, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Luke Hildebrandt, So., A/MF, Alberta, Canada
Lees-McRae
- Ryan Bird, Jr., A, Vero Beach, Florida
- Tyler Flannelly, Jr., MF, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Logan Ryan, Jr., D, Nottingham, Maryland
Mount Olive
- Mike Marto, Sr., M, Saddle Brook, New Jersey (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, USILA All-Region Honorable Mention; 2021 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament)
- Aidan Lalonde, Jr. A, British Columbia, Canada (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Cameron Norton, So. D, Arnold, Maryland (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
North Greenville
- Thomas Cecere, R-Sr., A, Grand Island, New York (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American; 2021 Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Hayden Moffat, So., A, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada (2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Lucas Yearwood, Sr., LSM, Mauldin, South Carolina