Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men's Lax Picked Third in Patriot League Preseason Poll
2/19/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 19, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Patriot League men's lacrosse coaches and sports information directors picked Bucknell to contend for another conference title in a very close vote at the top of the preseason poll. The Bison, who have won or shared each of the last four Patriot League titles, took third in the poll.
Navy, set to begin its first season as a lacrosse-playing member of the Patriot League, received eight first-place votes and was precariously dubbed preseason favorites with 86 points in the poll. Defending champion Army took six first-place votes and received 85 points.
Bucknell was third with 71 points, while Hobart received the remaining two first-place votes and was picked fourth with 68 points.
Colgate (58), Lehigh (40), Lafayette (22) and Holy Cross (18) rounded out the poll.
For the first time, the Patriot League will go to a four-team tournament to determine its champion and recipient of an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Patriot League tourney will be held Apr. 30 and May 2 at the field of the highest-seeded team.
Bucknell is 21-3 in Patriot League play over the last four seasons. The Bison shared the league crown with Hobart in 2000, won it outright in 2001, finished in a three-way tie with Army and Hobart in 2002, and shared it with Army in 2003. Bucknell, which also won a PL title in 1996, is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
