Lacrosse Magazine Ranks Mustangs Second, Kaz POY
OWINGS MILLS, Md. - For the second time this preseason, the Stevenson men's lacrosse team was picked at No. 2 in a Division III national poll as Lacrosse Magazine tabbed the Mustangs as the second-ranked team in the country behind defending national champion Cortland in its annual preseason rankings.
In addition, senior Steve Kazimer (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) was chosen by the magazine as the nation's top player for the second time. Inside Lacrosse also chose the third-year player as the Division III Player of the Year in its Face-Off Yearbook 2010.
Five of Stevenson's 2010 opponents were also selected in the magazine's Division III top-20 preseason poll including four in the top-10 in No. 5 Salisbury, No. 6 Denison, No. 7 Roanoke, No. 9 Western New England. Lynchburg was also tabbed at No. 15.
Four of those five games will be at home.
Staff writer Jac Coyne also selected Stevenson as the least surprising selection as the nation's No. 2-ranked team in his preseason blog about the magazine's rankings. He also picked the Mustangs and Salisbury to meet for the CAC championship game, tabbing it as the game of the year in Division III.
Coyne also has Stevenson getting a first round bye in the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship, but losing to Haverford in overtime in the quarterfinals. He also has two of the Mustangs' 2010 opponents, Salisbury and Western New England, playing for the national championship at M&T Bank Stadium with the Sea Gulls winning, 14-9.
Lacrosse Magazine picked 10 of the 11 teams that won national championships in 2009 to repeat as title-winners in 2010, including Cortland. The rankings were compiled by Lacrosse Magazine staff after consultations with coaches.
The magazine also named its Preseason Player of the Year in each division of play. A total of 11 student-athletes as the best in their respective divisions of play.
The rankings and preseason honorees are profiled in the January issue of Lacrosse Magazine and expanded college previews will run in the February issue.
The Mustangs open their season at Widener on Saturday, February 20.
