The reigning America East champion, Albany Great Danes, and last year's runners-up, the Stony Brook Seawolves, earned spots in the men's lacrosse national preseason polls. NCAA men's lacrosse officially begins on Feb. 6.
The Great Danes are ranked 12th in the USILA Coaches' Poll and 13th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, while Stony Brook is 20th in the coaches' poll and receiving votes in the media poll. The pair was picked first and second, respectively, in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.
4 America East student-athletes were selected in the 2016 MLL Collegiate Draft. Among the draftees were Albany's John Maloney (3rd round, pick 22, Chesapeak Bayhawks) and Blaze Riorden (6th round, pick 51, Rochester Rattlers), along with Stony Brook's Challen Rogers (4th round, pick 32, Boston Cannons) and Brody Eastwood (6th round, pick 52, New York Lizards).
Along with the preseason polls, numerous student-athletes were featured on the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-America Teams. Here is who was included:
Second Team
Connor Fields, So., A, Albany
Third Team
Challen Rogers, Sr., M, Stony Brook
Ian MacKay, Jr., M, Vermont
Jeff Reh, JR., SSDM, Stony Brook
Honorable Mention
Brody Eastwood, Sr., A, Stony Brook
Blaze Riorden, Sr., G, Albany
4 America East student-athletes were selected in the 2016 MLL Collegiate Draft. Among the draftees were Albany's John Maloney (3rd round, pick 22, Chesapeak Bayhawks) and Blaze Riorden (6th round, pick 51, Rochester Rattlers), along with Stony Brook's Challen Rogers (4th round, pick 32, Boston Cannons) and Brody Eastwood (6th round, pick 52, New York Lizards).