Bucknell's Billy Haire Named Patriot League Men's Lax Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
1/28/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Jan. 28, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior men's lacrosse defenseman the\ league\ office\ announced Wednesday on its annual preseason media teleconference. Also announced was the preseason poll, as selected by the head coaches and sports information directors, and Bucknell was picked third with two first-place votes.
Defending champion Colgate, which defeated Bucknell in the 2008 Patriot League championship game, was named the preseason favorite with eight first-place votes and 66 total points. Navy was a close second with three first-place votes and 63 points. Bucknell was third with 53 points, while Army became the fourth team to garner a first-place vote and was picked fourth with 46 points. Lehigh (31), Lafayette (19) and Holy Cross (16) rounded out the poll.
Haire earned his first Preseason Defensive Player of the Year nod just a few weeks after being named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Inside Lacrosse. A 2009 Bison co-captain, Haire has started every game (44 straight) on close defense over the last three seasons. Haire was a First Team All-Patriot League pick in 2007 and a second team honoree last season.
Bucknell's top defender who is routinely assigned to the opposition's top attackman, Haire has anchored a Bison defensive unit that has ranked seventh, second and 16th in the nation in scoring defense over the last three years.
Bucknell, picked No. 18 in the Inside Lacrosse preseason poll, opens its 2009 season at Duke on Feb. 14.