2013 GNAC Men’s Lacrosse Pre-season Coaches’ Poll Announced

BOSTON, Mass. – The Mount Ida College Mustangs have been selected as the 2013 Pre-Season favorite in the 2013 GNAC Men's Lacrosse Pre-season Coaches' Poll. The Mustangs, who received eight first place votes, as well as 98 total points in the poll, finished above Norwich University who followed in the poll with 86 total points. Both teams advanced to the 2012 GNAC Championship last season, with Mount Ida College defeating Norwich University by a score of 7-4.

The Mustangs, who are defending the 2012 title, put together an impressive 15-5 overall record in last season's campaign, which included an 8-1 record within the GNAC. In the GNAC finals, Mount Ida downed Norwich to advance to the 2012 NCAA Tournament before eventually bowing out in the first round to Bowdoin College. The 2013 squad returns a strong core of players, led by 2012 Rookie of the Year Michael Trocchi (Danvers, MA). Additionally, the Mustangs return seniors Nick Yacuzzi (Oakham, MA) and Nick Maurias (Peabody, MA) to lead a well-balanced team looking to push for back-to-back GNAC Championship's.

Finishing behind Mount Ida College in the poll, Norwich University comes in receiving a total of 86 points. The Cadet's, who advanced to the 2012 GNAC Championship game, will look to build off of their overall record of 11-7, which included a 6-3 record within the GNAC. Norwich return's Coach of the Year Neal Anderson, as well as four 2012 All-Conference members. The 2013 squad look's to use the strong returning core to challenge for the Championship this season

The Lasell College Lasers finished third in the poll, receiving 82 overall points, which included one first place vote. The 2013 team will have a lot to build off of. In 2012, the team went a perfect 9-0 in GNAC play, and finished with an overall record of 12-5. The Lasers also return Offensive Player of the Year, senior attackman Dylan Gray (Bayport, N.Y.).

Finishing in fourth in the 2013 Pre-Season Poll was Saint Joseph's College (ME). The Monks received 61 total points in the poll after finishing last season with a GNAC record of 6-3 to advance to the GNAC quarterfinals before eventually losing to Norwich University, 9-4. The Monk's will look to advance beyond that in the 2013 campaign, and challenge for the GNAC Championship.

With 60 points, Anna Maria College rounded out the top half of the poll in fifth place. The AMCats 6-3 GNAC record in 2012, led them into the playoffs where they advanced to the Semifinals, before falling to eventual champion Mount Ida College. The AMCats once again will look to advance beyond the Semifinals in 2013, and will be in the hunt for the GNAC Championship this season.

Becker College received 51 points placing them in sixth place, just beating out Emmanuel College who earned 49 points in seventh. Rivier University placed eighth with 24 points, while Daniel Webster College finished close behind in ninth with 20 points. Emerson College rounded out the group, receiving 19 points for a tenth place finish.

2013 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men's Lacrosse Pre-Season Coaches' Poll