Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Flibotte, Spring Named to Preseason All-PL Men's Lax Squad
1/28/2015 10:45:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell juniors Thomas Flibotte and Alex Spring were named to the 2015 Preseason All-Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Team on Wednesday. Flibotte, a midfielder, and Spring, a defensive midfielder, were two of the 13 preseason all-stars announced during the league's annual preseason media teleconference. The preseason poll was also revealed, with Bucknell predicted to finish fourth among the nine teams.
Flibotte has been a First Team All-Patriot League selection in each of his first two seasons at Bucknell. The powerful middie scored 29 goals as a freshman and 19 more last season. Flibotte had a six-goal game against nationally ranked Drexel in 2013 and tallied four goals in a league win over Holy Cross last season. He ranked fourth in the league in shot attempts with 101 in 2014.
Spring has developed into one of the league's top long-stick defensive midfielders. Terrific on ground balls, Spring led the Bison in that category with 57 as a sophomore last year, and he also ranked second on the squad with 23 caused turnovers. He earned a Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week citation after scooping a career-high nine ground balls in a win over Brown, followed by a six-GB performance in a league win over Boston University. Spring also scored his first goal in last season's Army game.
Defending champion Loyola was picked to repeat by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Greyhounds collected 12 first-place votes and 123 poll points. Army was picked second with 110 points, followed by Lehigh (109), Bucknell (81), Colgate (75), Navy (56), Boston University (46), Lafayette (26) and Holy Cross (22).
Army's John Glesener was selected as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Lehigh goalie Matt Poillon was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Bucknell returns seven starters this spring, including a pair of All-Patriot League selections in Flibotte and David Dickson. Five of the team's top seven scorers are back, and while they will have to replace All-America defenseman Jackson Place, the bulk of the defensive corps returns as well.
The Bison have a scrimmage at Syracuse this Saturday and then will open the season on Feb. 7 at Delaware.
