Stevens Favored to Take First Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Title
Stevens Institute of Technology, coming off a school-record 16-win season, is the favorite to capture the Empire 8 Men’s Lacrosse Championship for the first time this season, according to the preseason coaches’ poll. The Ducks received four first-place votes.
Stevens is ranked ninth in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Preseason Poll. Nazareth College and St. John Fisher College each received votes.
Senior attack Alex Hofrichter, a first-team all-conference selection last year, recorded 34 goals and 12 assists for 46 points. His 34 scores are the most for a returning Ducks’ player. Senior midfielder Michael Steinhauser, a second-team all-conference selection in 2011, won 59.5 percent of his face-offs and led the team with 113 ground balls. Senior attack Kevin Rose is the leading returning scorer for the Ducks after posting 32 goals and 29 assists for 61 points last season.
Ithaca, which finished fourth last season, is the coaches’ choice to place second this year. The Bombers received two first-place votes. Senior attack Tom Mongelli, a second-team all-conference selection last year, led the Bombers with 36 goals and 44 points in 2011.
Seven-time Empire 8 champion Nazareth College is the coaches’ choice to finish third this season and received two first-place votes. The Golden Flyers reached the Empire 8 championship game last year. Senior attack C.J. Estes is the team’s leading returner scorer after recording 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points.
St. John Fisher, which captured the regular season conference title in 2010, is the preseason choice to place fourth this year. Senior attack Mitch Ritchie earned all-conference first team and led the Cardinals with 39 goals and 57 points last year. Senior midfielder Kyle Denhoff received second-team all-conference honors a year ago and was named to the Inside Lacrosse preseason All-American Third Team.
Alfred University and Hartwick College tied for fifth place in the coaches’ preseason poll. The Saxons finished 10-6 a year ago and fell to the Hawks by one goal in the season finale. Hartwick advanced to the ECAC Tournament final last season.
Elmira College and Utica College are the coaches’ choices to finish seventh and eighth, respectively, in the preseason poll. Senior defenseman Nick Krajacic of the Pioneers has earned all-conference first-team honors each of the past two seasons.
2012 Empire 8 Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Stevens Institute of Technology (4) 46 points
2. Ithaca College (2) 43
3. Nazareth College (2) 37
4. St. John Fisher College 31
5. Alfred University 22
Hartwick College 22
7. Elmira College 12
8. Utica College 11