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Central Islip, N.Y. - Defending ECC Champion and NCAA Division II runner up Mercyhurst College has been chosen as preseason favorites in the East Coast Conference men's lacrosse poll as voted upon by the conference coaches.

The Lakers, coached by Chris Ryan, posted a perfect 13-2 mark in 2007 including a 6-0 ECC record to capture the ECC title. The Lakers went on to earn a bid to the NCAA Final Four where they topped NYIT in the national semifinals before bowing to Le Moyne in the title game.

Mercyhurst earned 47 points including five first place votes edging second place NYIT which garnered 44 points including the remaining two first place votes.

The remainder of the field included Dowling College (33), LIU/C.W. Post (28), Molloy College (21), Adelphi University (15) and Dominican College (8).

NYIT junior midfielder Kevin Hennessy was the coaches' pick as preseason Player of the Year. Hennessy, last year's ECC Player of the Year, was a First Team All ECC selection along with National Midfielder of the Year, USILA First Team All American, and National Division II Player of the Year accolades. Hennessy notched 28 goals and 22 assists for 50 points and averaged 5.33 ground balls per game.

Joining Hennessy on the preseason all conference first team was fellow NYIT teammates Christian Scuderi, Matt Sullivan and Brett Neal; Greg Cerar of C.W. Post; Joe Biondolillo and Ryan Campbell of Dowling; Mike Thon, Matt Spahr and Jason LaShomb of Mercyhurst; and Billy Brown, Chris Hupfer and Keith Galante of Molloy.

A list of the team poll and all conference teams follow. 2008 ECC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

Preseason Player of the Year: Kevin Hennessy, NYIT