Division II men's lacrosse is back for the 2019 season. Merrimack, the defending national champions, will feel good about its chance to repeat this season, bringing back much of the roster from 2018. Danger lurks, however, right behind Merrimack.
Le Moyne, the perennial contender and 2017 champion, sits at No. 2 behind its NE10 foe. Lenoir-Rhyne, fresh off a historic season, will be poised to make another run this year. Read through for the rest of the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Men's Preseason Top 20.
NOTE: These rankings were compiled before the season and do not reflect any Division II results from this past weekend. The first Division II Men's Top 20 will be released on Feb. 11
1. Merrimack
The defending Division II national champion will welcome back its top three scorers — Sean Black, Christian Thomas and Charlie Bertrand. Black and Thomas will enter their sophomore seasons with experience playing at the highest level in Division II, something will only help this team become more powerful. Even with the losses of defenseman James Bassett, Blake Boudreau and Hunter Schmell, the Warriors are the favorite to win again.
2. Le Moyne
Le Moyne a handful of key players from last year’s team, including leading scorer Justin Kesselring, All-American Brendan Entenmann and faceoff man Kendall Vecchio. But with Dan Entenmann and Zac Prattson back, and the second and third-leading scorers, the Dolphins should be loaded and ready to compete in 2019. “Best coached team in Division II,” said one opposing coach.
3. Lenoir-Rhyne
All-Americans Eric Dickinson and Joe Buduo return to form a formidable attacking duo. If the Bears want a repeat of 2018’s historic season, they’ll have to fill holes left by LSM Colin Lett and defensemen Jacob O’Connor and Weston Bimstefer.
4. Adelphi
Adelphi might bring back the most among the top teams in Division II. The Panthers return their top nine scorers from 2018, including All-Americans Nicolas Racalbuto, Michael Osmundsen and Ian Kirby. Starting faceoff man Mark Andrejack (68 percent) and goalie Brendan McDougal are also back. Gordon Purdie Jr. is back after redshirting and could help lead the offense.
5. Tampa
Andrew Kew flew under the radar last season, but will return with 237 points to his name. Fellow attackman Jake Mother McGraw returns, as does faceoff man Ross Dickerson. This team will be loaded on offense entering 2019.
6. Seton Hill
Leading scorer and All-American Jack Moran graduated from a team that advanced to the final four in 2018, as is midfielder Zack Rush and defenseman Joe Cillo. This team will have a few holes to fill, but talent remains.
7. NYIT
The Bears lose top scorers LeRoy Halfman (70) and Matt Chanenchuk (58), who were major contributors. LSM Ian Prate is also gone after earning All-American honors in 2018. This team will have to rely on a younger offensive core to succeed.
8. LIU Post
Sophomore Will Snelders led the nation in scoring last season in his debut season. Faceoff man Connor Farrell is back after winning over 70 percent of his faceoffs last season. That’s a recipe for a team on the rebound.
9. Mount Olive
Thatcher Clark and middie Brady Elbin return to anchor an offense that loses just one of its top 13 point-getters. First Team All-American goalie Will Urban graduated, leaving a void in the cage. “They need to win more than one big game in a season and they have the talent and experience to do so,” said an opposing coach.
10. Saint Leo
A senior-laden team that made it to the NCAA final might be due for a regression with the graduation turnover. All-American Jake Gilmour is gone, as are three starting defensemen. Goalie Thomas Tatarian is back, though, to help ease the change.
11. Belmont Abbey
Leading scorer Adam Wiedemann and fellow attackman Kyle McGinley have graduated. Still, this team returns much of the rest, fueling one rival coach to say “they will take the next step to the NCAA tournament.”
12. Saint Anselm
All-American Drew Boudreau graduated and left a hole in the defense. However, Saint Anselm returns almost of its starting offense. “They have a ton of offense back, they have an athletic middle of the field and they’re ready to take the next step,” according to another Division II coach.
13. Mercyhurst
Greg Weyl was the key cog for Mercyhurst in his four seasons, but he has moved on via graduation. It’s a team that is hoping to reload ahead of 2019, a year where it could surprise.
14. Mercy
Mercy returns its top four scorers, including All-American Ryan MacSpadyen, who scored 36 goals in 2018. Defenseman Maxwell Littleton will lead a unit that’s held intact. “Could be the year to take the ECC,” an opposing coach said.
15. Wingate
Four of the top six scorers are back from a team that underachieved last season. All-American Conor Gronbach returns after tallying 43 points.
16. Limestone
The Saints will look to regroup after one of the more disappointing seasons in recent memory. They’ll enter 2019 with two new assistants in Jeremy Phelps and Will Campbell. Limestone will have to find new leaders with Brendan P. Smith and Charlie Sheehan gone.
17. Colorado Mesa
Last season was a historic one for Mesa, which broke into the top 10 and advanced to its first NCAA tournament. All-American Jack Griffin is back for a team that returns a good portion. “Why not?” said an opposing coach.
18. Pace
The Setters had a down 2018 after making the NCAA tournament two years ago. They return four of their top five scorers, looking to rebound in the uber-competitive NE10.
19. Lynn
Lynn returns 11 of its top 12 scorers from last season. In addition, most of its defense is back to make it a deep team ready to surprise in 2019. “Could they be the St. Leo of 2019?” asks a Division II coach.
20. Indianapolis
Only one defensive starter is gone from a unit that finished in the top 10 in scoring. In addition, the top three scorers are back.