RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College men's lacrosse team has been tabbed to finish second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference office announced today. Siena, the squad that defeated the Jaspers in last season's MAAC Championship Game, was picked to repeat. In addition, Manhattan senior defenseman Steve Sternberg (Easton, Conn.) and senior attack James Synowiez (Owego, N.Y.) were selected to the Preseason All-MAAC team.
Sternberg is now a two-time Preseason All-MAAC choice. Manhattan's top cover man, Sternberg earned Second Team All-MAAC honors for the second consecutive season in 2009. He placed second on the team with 51 ground balls last season, including a career-high seven in the regular season finale at Marist. He also caused 28 turnovers in 2009.
Synowiez was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAAC last season. Playing his first season for the Jaspers after transferring from Onondaga Community College, he led the MAAC with 43 goals and 55 points, the second-highest single-season totals in program history. Synowiez also led the MAAC with 3.06 points per game and placed 14th in the nation with 2.39 goals per game last season. He also tallied eight man-up goals and collected 42 ground balls in 2009.
Siena, which went undefeated in MAAC play, then won the conference tournament last season, finished with 73 points in the poll. The Jaspers went 10-8 overall and 5-3 in MAAC games in 2009. Manhattan earned 69 points to place second in the preseason rankings. Canisius finished third with 60 points, while Mount St. Mary's (51) just edged Marist (49) for the fourth spot. Saint Joseph's placed sixth with 40 points, followed by VMI (31) and MAAC newcomer Detroit (18). Wagner collected 14 points to round out the poll.
The Jaspers open the 2010 season next Friday, Feb. 19, when they visit No. 5 Johns Hopkins for the first time in program history. The 5 p.m. contest between the Jaspers and Blue Jays will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Manhattan gets its home season underway against Robert Morris on Friday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.
