Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/5/22
From Press Release
It is just two weeks away before the start of the season for Chestnut Hill College men’s lacrosse team as it seeks to defende its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship.
The Griffins received votes in the recently released 2022 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II Coaches Preseason Poll. The Scarlet and Gold received 18 points from the ranking committee, essentially putting the Griffins at No. 22. LeMoyne College, the 2021 NCAA division II National Champions, received all 23 first place votes to top the pre-season poll with 460 points.
Chestnut Hill produced a 10-2 record in 2021, culminating with capturing the CACC Championship at victory Field on May 8 with a 17-9 win over Wilmington University. The Griffins were a perfect 5-0 in conference play and finished the season at #19 in the final USILA Division II top-20 poll.
Several key players return to the Griffins for the 2022 season including two of their top three scorers from last season Ben Revak (Archmere Academy) and Jackson Melnick as well as goalkeeper Jake Miller. Revak was an honorable mention USILA Division II all-American Selection last season and was second on the team with 27 goals. Melnick finished with 24 goals tied for the team lead with 25 assists to finish with 49 points in his freshman campaign as a Griffin. Miller led the CACC with a 9.40 goals against average (15th nationally) while playing in 11 of the Griffins 12 games.
Revak is also one of three 2021 CACC First Team All-Conference Honorees returning for 2022 along with Connor O’Donnell and P.J. Spernal, the 2021 CACC Men’s Lacrosse Top XVI Award winner (given to a player participating in the conference championship with the highest cumulative gpa). Miller is one of three 2021 Second Team All-CACC returnees along with J.R. Howell and Kyle Gartenmeyer.
Spernal was named a USILA and Inside Lacrosse Third-Team Preseason All-American this week while Revak was named an Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American.
The Chestnut Hill College Men’s lacrosse team opens their season at #7 Seton Hill University on February 19. And the Griffins return to Victory field for their home opener on February 27 against #10 Saint Anselm College.
The complete USILA Division II Pre-Season Poll is below
Rank Division 2. Total Record
1 Le Moyne (23) 460 0-0
2 Lenoir-Rhyne 428 0-0
3 Wingate 385 0-0
4 Tampa 369 0-0
5 Mercyhurst 345 0-0
6 Mercy 335 0-0
7 Seton Hill 330 0-0
8 Adelphi 292 0-0
9 Indianapolis 266 0-0
10 Saint Anselm 265 0-0
11 Belmont Abbey 216 0-0
12 Lindenwood 201 0-0
13 Pace 175 0-0
14 Mount Olive 165 0-0
15 Limestone 134 0-0
16 Frostburg State 110 0-0
17 Lynn 88 0-0
18 Queens U. of Charlotte 82 0-0
19 Bentley 38 0-0
20 Rockhurst 36 0-0
RV Newberry 29
Chestnut Hill 18
Colorado Mesa 18
Molloy 14
Westminster 13
Lake Erie 10
Florida Southern 5
Alabama Huntsville 5
Catawba 4
Maryville 2
Montevallo 2
Rollins 1
Roberts Wesleyan 1