Bucknell Men's Lacrosse No. 15 in USILA Preseason Coaches' Poll
1/30/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Jan. 30, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's lacrosse team was listed 15th in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday, the program's highest ever preseason ranking.
Also on Wednesday, the Patriot League announced its preseason men's lacrosse poll, conducted by head coaches and sports information directors, and the Bison were picked third behind Navy and Colgate. Bucknell received one first-place vote and 51 total points. Navy collected 12 of the 14 first-place tallies and 72 points, while Colgate also received a first-place vote and 60 points. Army was picked fourth with 45 points, followed by Lehigh (31), Holy Cross (20) and Lafayette (15).
In the USILA poll, Bucknell was one of three Patriot League teams picked in the top 20. Navy was picked No. 12, while Colgate was one spot behind the Bison at No. 16. Two other Bucknell opponents were also ranked, with opening-day foe Duke picked No. 2 and Towson No. 13.
Johns Hopkins was picked first in the national coaches' poll, followed by Duke, Virginia, Georgetown and Princeton.
Earlier in the preseason, Bucknell was ranked No. 17 by Inside Lacrosse and No. 16 by Lacrosse Magazine.
Bucknell finished 11-4 last season, falling just one win shy of the school record. The Bison were ranked 18th in the final Nike/Inside Lacrosse Poll, and they return nine starters and a number of key reserves from that team. Among the returnees are defenseman Billy Haire, goalie Nick Sciubba and attackman Austin Winter, all of whom earned Honorable Mention Preseason All-America plaudits from Inside Lacrosse.
The season opener is slated for Feb. 16 at Duke, with the home opener scheduled for March 1 against Ohio State.
