SOUTH EASTON, MASS – The Dolphins of Le Moyne College are unanimous favorites to repeat as Northeast-10 Conference men’s lacrosse champions, according to this season’s preseason coaches’ poll.

The defending regular season, tournament, and national champions received a maximum 121 points and all 11 first place votes. Bryant University, last year’s regular season and tournament runner-up, received 110 points to take second place.

Bentley College (97 points), Pace University (88), and Southern New Hampshire University (73) rounded out the top five.

The remainder of the poll included Merrimack College, Saint Michael’s College, Saint Anselm College, Assumption College, Franklin Pierce College and American International College, respectively.

Four teams are ranked in the first United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II national poll. Le Moyne is ranked No. 1, Bryant is ranked No. 7, Pace University is ranked No. 9, and Bentley is ranked No. 10.

Le Moyne is the five time defending regular season champion and four-time defending tournament champion. The Le Moyne program has not lost a regular season conference game since the 1999 season. The Dolphins also captured their first NCAA Division II national championship last season, defeating Limestone College in double overtime.

The 2005 season begins this week. The six-team Northeast-10 Championship tournament takes place April 30th with quarterfinal games and follows with semifinals May 4th and the championship May 7th. All tournament games will be played at highest remaining seeds.

Sponsoring 23 championship sports and 15 full-time members, the Northeast-10 is the second largest NCAA Division II athletic conference in the nation and sponsors the most championships of any Division II conference.

2005 Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Le Moyne (11) 121 Points

2. Bryant 110

3. Bentley 97

4. Pace 88

5. Southern New Hampshire 73

6. Merrimack 63

7. Saint Michael’s 58

8. Saint Anselm 46

9. Assumption 34

10. Franklin Pierce 24

11. American International 12

(First place votes in parentheses.)