Baltimore, NY - The reigning National Champion NYIT Bears were selected the #1 pick on Inside Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Poll. C.W. Post was slotted at #3, Mercyhurst at #4, Adelphi at #6, Dowling at #8 and Molloy at #10 as East Coast Conference institutions claimed six of the top ten spots.
Additionally, three of the four preseason top awards were given to ECC players and 20 of the 47 Preseason All-Americans selected play at ECC institutions, including 10 First Team picks.
Ed Ege a senior attackman from Adelphi was named Preseason Attackman of the Year. Ege led Division II in points (6.17) and assists (4.33) per game last season.
Midfielder, Kevin Hennessy a member of the 2008 Championship NYIT Bears squad garnered Preseason Midfielder of the Year honors. Hennessy notched 16 goals and 20 assists while adding 49 groundballs last year.
Senior Jason LaShamb of Mercyhurst earns the title of Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive season. LaShomb stopped 60% of the shots he faced during the 2008 campaign while allowing only 6.5 goals per game.
ECC players claim all but three spots on the First Team. Keith Henderson (Sr., NYIT) joins Ege as a First Team Attackman. Hennessy, Keith Galante (Sr., Molloy) and Matt Messina (Sr., NYIT) claim the three Midfield selections. Michael Cama (Jr., CW Post) was picked as the top DII face-off midfielder while Joe Biondiolillo (Jr., Dowling) earned First Team honors as a long stick middie. Matt Spehr (Sr., Mercyhurst) and Bryan Leonard (Jr., CW Post) were selected First Team defenders and LaShamb rounded out the ECC representation on the First Team.
Greg Cerar (Sr., A, CW Post), Matt Dimler (Sr., M, CW Post), Michael Thon (Sr., M, Mercyhurst) and Kyle Rubisch (Jr., D, Dowling) were Second Team picks.
David Loftus (Sr., A, CW Post), Austin Carino (Jr., A, NYIT), Kyle O'Brien (Jr., A, Dowling) Ryan Kelly (Sr., D, Adelphi), Chris Hupfer (Sr., D, Molloy) and Bob Humenn (Sr., G, Molloy) were placed on the Honorable Mention team.
Top Ten:
1. NYIT
2. LeMoyne
3. CW Post
4. Mercyhurst
5. Limestone
6. Adelphi
7. Merrimack
8. Dowling
9. Mars Hill
10. Molloy