BOSTON – After clinching the program’s first conference title since 2018, UAlbany was selected first the America East Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll while the league also released its inaugural #AEMLAX Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Great Danes were a unanimous selection in first, taking all six possible first-place votes for 36 total points. Vermont, the 2023 and 2022 regular season champion, was picked second with 30 points while Bryant took third with 26 points and the remaining first place vote. UMBC (21) was fourth, while Binghamton (17), NJIT (10) and UMass Lowell (7) rounded out the poll.
UAlbany had four players earn Preseason All-Conference recognition, including reigning Rookie of the Year Ryan Doherty and 2024 First-Team All-Conference selections Silas Richmond and Conner Fingar. Vermont had a league-high six players named Preseason All-Conference, highlighted by Offensive Player of the Year Charlie Pope and First-Team All-Conference LSM Jack Combs.
Preseason Poll
| Pl. |
School |
Pts. (1st) |
| 1. |
UAlbany |
36 (6) |
| 2. |
Vermont |
30 |
| 3. |
Bryant |
26 (1) |
| 4. |
UMBC |
21 |
| 5. |
Binghamton |
17 |
| 6. |
NJIT |
10 |
| 7. |
UMass Lowell |
7 |
Preseason All-Conference
| A |
Ryan Doherty (UAlbany) |
| A |
Luke Reiter (Vermont) |
| A |
Silas Richmond (UAlbany) |
| M |
Jordan Galloway (UMBC) |
| M |
Liam Ferris (Binghamton) |
| M |
Charlie Pope (Vermont) |
| M |
Tristan Whitaker (Vermont) |
| D |
Drew Lucas (Bryant) |
| D |
Max Neeson (UAlbany) |
| D |
Lorenzo Ramos (Binghamton) |
| D |
Eddie Schwasnick (Vermont) |
| FO |
Henry Dodge (Vermont) |
| LSM |
Jack Combs (Vermont) |
| SSDM |
Conner Fingar (UAlbany) |
| GK |
Connor Winters (Binghamton) |
Need to Know:
- UAlbany claimed its first league championship since 2018, edging Vermont 12-11 in the title contest. The Great Danes went 10-8 overall and 6-1 in league play, with three games decided by two or fewer goals.
- Junior Silas Richmond led the league in both points (73) and goals (46) last season, while teammate Ryan Doherty was third in goals (37).
- Vermont was picked second and has reached the #AEMLAX Championship game in five of the past six seasons. The Catamounts bring back Offensive Player of the Year Charlie Pope, who had 42 goals and ten assists for 52 points.
- Bryant was picked third after going 9-5 overall last year but 4-3 in conference play and missed the #AEMLAX Tournament due to a tiebreak after a four-way tie for third.
- UMBC was selected fourth and finished tied for third in the league with a 4-3 mark and 5-7 record overall.
- Binghamton also finished at 4-3 last year and was picked fifth with 17 points as the Bearcats look to make the tournament for the third time in the last four seasons.
The 2025 season begins on Friday, February 7 as Vermont travels to Syracuse and UMass Lowell hosts Merrimack. Binghamton, Bryant and NJIT begin their seasons one day later, with all three teams at home.
Fans will once again be able to watch nearly every #AEMLAX contest this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
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