Bucknell University Athletics
Men's Lax Ranked in Both National Polls, Picked Second in PL Preseason Poll
1/29/2014 12:02:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The 2014 lacrosse season is just around the corner, and the media and opposing coaches are forecasting a bright outlook for Frank Fedorjaka's Bucknell men's team this spring. The Bison are ranked in both major national polls – No. 14 in the Warrior Inside Lacrosse Media Poll and No. 15 in the USILA Coaches' Poll – and the Patriot League coaches and sports information directors picked Bucknell second behind Loyola Maryland in the league's preseason poll. In addition, senior defenseman Jackson Place, junior attack David Dickson and sophomore midfielder Thomas Flibotte were all named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Loyola and Boston University have joined the Patriot League this year, making it a nine-team conference in men's lacrosse for the first time. Loyola is two years removed from a national championship, while Boston University is fielding a men's lacrosse program for the first time.
The Greyhounds were picked first in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, garnering 13 first-place votes and 123 total points. Bucknell was second with three first-place nods and 109 points, while defending-champion Lehigh earned the remaining two first-place picks and came in a close third with 108 points. Army (86), Colgate (73), Navy (56), Holy Cross (42), Lafayette (35) and Boston University (16) rounded out the poll. The Patriot League Tournament expands from four to six teams this year.
Bucknell's three Preseason All-Patriot League selections were the most in the league. Dickson (first team), Flibotte (first team) and Place (second team) were all All-Patriot League selections in 2013, and Dickson went on to earn Third Team All-America honors. Last month, Inside Lacrosse Faceoff Magazine listed Place as a Third Team Preseason All-American and Dickson an Honorable Mention Preseason All-American for 2014.
A fourth-round Major League Lacrosse draft selection of the Ohio Machine, Place enters his fourth year as a starter on defense for the Bison. Last season he ranked fifth in the league and 17th nationally with 30 caused turnovers, and he keyed a defense that ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense, fifth in man-down defense and sixth in caused turnovers.
Dickson last season gained a reputation as one of the top feeders in college lacrosse after producing a Bucknell and Patriot League-record 48 assists. He ranked fourth nationally in assists per game and led Bucknell with 56 total points. His first All-America campaign came as a midfielder, and this year he moves down to attack, where he will team with senior Todd Heritage and sophomore Sean Doyle to give the Bison a potentially potent trio.
Flibotte is coming off an outstanding rookie season, when he scored 29 goals and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors. Flibotte had a six-goal game to spark a win over No. 13 Drexel, and he went on to rank 11th in the league in goals per game.
Dickson was joined on the Preseason All-Patriot League attack unit by Army's John Glesener and Loyola's Justin Ward. Flibotte was joined at midfield by Holy Cross' Terry McKenna and Colgate's Jimmy Ryan. Place, Loyola's Joe Fletcher and Lehigh's Ty Souders comprised the defense, and the team was rounded out by Army faceoff specialist Alex Daly, Navy defensive midfielder Pat Kiernan and Lehigh goalie Matt Poillon.
Glesner was selected as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Fletcher was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Bucknell returns seven starters and 25 lettermen from a team that finished 12-4 and advanced to the Patriot League championship game in 2013. The Bison scrimmaged Maryland and Villanova last weekend and will do the same against Syracuse and Towson in Towson, Md., this Saturday. The 2014 campaign officially opens on Saturday, Feb. 8 against Delaware at 5 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
