Marist College Selected As 2016 Men's Lacrosse Favorite, Radin Named Preseason Player of the Year
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s lacrosse champion Marist College, has been selected as the 2016 preseason favorite, as voted upon by the leagues seven head coaches. Marist received five first place votes, totaling 47 points.
The Red Foxes went 6-0 in MAAC play last season and finished the regular season with a 14-4 overall record. The reigning men’s lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, Joseph Radin has been named the 2016 Preseason Player of the Year in a unanimous vote. Last season, Radin broke the MAAC single season record with 55 goals in a season. Radin was named to the All-MAAC First Team in 2015 and was also a unanimous selection to the 2016 Preseason All-MAAC team along with teammate attacker JD Recor, midfielder Gannon Morrison (unanimous selection), and defenseman Frankie Brier. Marist is led by 2015 Lids Team Sports MAAC Coach of the Year, Keegan Morrison.
In addition to the four Red Foxes on the 2016 Preseason All-MAAC team is Quinnipiac’s Ryan Keenan. Keenan was fifth in the MAAC last season in goals per game (1.80), eighth in points per game (2.53) and man-up goals per game (0.40). Keenan is joined on the preseason All-MAAC team by Quinnipiac teammate and midfielder Connor Meth. The Bobcats were selected second in the preseason coaches’ poll, with one first place vote and totaling 41 points, after making it to the championship game against Marist in 2015. Quinnipiac was 4-2 in MAAC play a season ago.
Monmouth University was selected third in the coaches’ preseason poll with one first place vote, totaling 36 points, after going 3-3 in MAAC play in 2015. Defender Andrew Grajewski was named to the All-MAAC Preseason team for the Hawks. Last season, Grajewski was ninth in the MAAC in caused turnovers per game (0.86). Monmouth led the conference with a 7.64 goals against average.
University of Detroit Mercy were selected tied for fourth in the preseason poll. Last season, Detroit finished in second place with a 4-2 record in the MAAC and an 8-6 overall record. Goalkeeper Jason Weber and defender Paul Bitetti lead the Titans into the new campaign after being selected to the preseason All-MAAC team at their respective positions. Weber was a member of the 2015 MAAC Second team. Bitetti was selected to the 2015 All MAAC First Team. Weber was third in the MAAC in goals against average (10.26) last season.
Siena College finished tied for fourth in the preseason poll along with Detroit. The Saints were 2-4 in the MAAC and 5-9 overall last season. For the Saints, they are led by Tim Cousin and Chris Robertson, who were members of the 2015 MAAC All-Rookie Team.
Canisius College comes in sixth place in the preseason poll. Last season, the Griffs were 2-4 in the MAAC and 3-12 overall. The Griffs are led by 2016 preseason All-MAAC selections in midfielder Jeff Edwards and defender Rich Stapleton. Edwards was on the 2015 MAAC First Team.
Rounding out the poll is Manhattan College. Jack Fowler finished third in the conference last season with a .517 faceoff percentage.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
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1.
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Marist
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47
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2.
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Quinnipiac
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41
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3.
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Monmouth
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36
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T4.
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Detroit
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24
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T4.
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Siena
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24
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6.
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Canisius
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17
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7.
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Manhattan
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7
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Preseason All-MAAC Team
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Joseph Radin*
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Attack
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Marist
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JD Recor
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Attack
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Marist
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Ryan Keenan
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Attack
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Quinnipiac
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Jeff Edwards
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Midfield
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Canisius
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Connor Meth
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Midfield
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Quinnipiac
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Gannon Morrison*
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Midfield
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Marist
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|
Rich Stapleton
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Defense
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Canisius
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Paul Bitetti
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Defense
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Detroit
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Frankie Brier
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Defense
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Marist
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Andrew Grajewski
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Defense
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Monmouth
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Jason Weber
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Goalie
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Detroit
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Preseason Player of the Year
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Joseph Radin*
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Attack
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Marist
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*denotes unanimous selection