Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/28/15
From Press Release
The Lehigh men’s lacrosse team has been picked third in the Patriot League preseason poll while Matt Poillon, Dan Taylor and Lukas Mikelinich have been recognized on the preseason All-League Team. Poillon, was also named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Mountain Hawks will be vying for their third Patriot League Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years.
Defending league champion Loyola was picked first in the preseason poll, garnering 123 points and 12 first-place votes. Army was next with 110 points and one first-place vote while the Mountain Hawks were one point behind, tallying 109 points and five first-place votes. Lehigh finished last season in third place, defeated sixth-place Navy in the Patriot League Quarterfinals before topping second-seeded Navy in the semifinals.
Rounding out the poll was Bucknell in fourth place with 81 points, Colgate (75 points), Navy (56 points), Boston University (46 points), Lafayette (26 points) and Holy Cross (22 points). Voting was conducted by the league’s coaches and Sports Information Directors.
A three-time All-American and two-time Patriot League Goalie of the Year, Poillon earned preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Mount Sinai, New York native owns a strong 7.25 career goals against average and .589 save percentage to go with a 37-11 record. Poillon finished last season with a 7.23 GAA and .575 save percentage.
Taylor emerged as last season progressed, finishing among the nation’s leaders with 76 points, which was tops on the team and Patriot League. It was also good for fifth in league history and the most among Canadians at the Division I level. He finished with double-figure points in his last eight games and 13 of 17 games on the season. Taylor tallied seven or more points on five occasions, leading Lehigh to a perfect 5-0 record in those games. Included was a four-goal, four-assist effort against the nation’s top defense Army in the Patriot League Semifinals.
Mikelinich returns as the anchor of Lehigh’s defense, which has stood among the nation’s elite over the last three years. Last season, the Mountain Hawks allowed just 7.22 goals for game, good for second in the country and just 0.01 behind the nation’s leader. Mikelinich posted career highs in groundballs (37) and caused turnovers (18).
All three seniors were selected in last weekend’s Major League Lacrosse draft as Poillon went 28th overall to the New York Lizards, Taylor was selected 38th to the Denver Outlaws and Mikelinich was picked 58th to the Lizards.
Poillon, Taylor, Mikelinich and the rest of the Mountain Hawks remain hard at work in preseason practice as the squad prepared for the season opener on Feb. 7 vs. Marquette. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Preseason Poll
1. Loyola Maryland (12 first place votes): 123
2. Army (1): 110
3. Lehigh (5): 109
4. Bucknell: 81
5. Colgate: 75
6. Navy: 56
7. Boston U: 46
8. Lafayette: 26
9. Holy Cross: 22
Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: John Glesener, Army (Sr., A)
Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Poillon, Lehigh (Sr., GK)
Men’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: John Glesener, Army (Sr.)
Attack: Nikko Pontrello (St. Augustine Prep), Loyola (Sr.)
Attack: Dan Taylor, Lehigh (Sr.)
Midfield: Thomas Flibotte, Bucknell (Jr.)
Midfield: Brian Sherlock, Loyola (So.)
Midfield: Gabe Voumard (St. Augustine Prep), Navy (Sr.)
Defense: Pat Frazier, Loyola (Sr.)
Defense: Lukas Mikelinich, Lehigh (Sr.)
Defense: Matt Yeager, Colgate (Sr.)
Face-Off Specialist: Alex Daly, Army (Jr.)
Defensive Midfield Specialist: Ryan Fournier, Loyola (So.)
Defensive Midfield Specialist: Alex Spring, Bucknell (Jr.)
Goalkeeper: Matt Poillon, Lehigh (Sr.)
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