FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Piedmont men’s lacrosse team was picked to finish second, as the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll was released Tuesday afternoon.
The Lions were picked to finish in second place, with 57 points and two first-place votes. Pfeiffer took the top spot in the poll, with the remaining seven first-place votes and 63 total points.
Last season, the Lions finished in a three-way tie for first place with a 7-1 conference record. Piedmont lost in overtime in the USA South Tournament Semifinals to Southern Virginia.
The Knights of Southern Virginia are ranked third with 47 total points, followed by LaGrange (42) and Methodist (41), who are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
Greensboro and Huntingdon finished in a tie for sixth in the voting with 25 points each as Brevard (13) and William Peace (11) rounded out the league.
This season, the Lions return two-year starter at goalie Johnny Matrona, who played a major role in regular season wins against Pfeiffer the past two seasons.
On the offensive end, the team’s four leading point scorers from a season ago return to the fold with Brady McGure, Michael Anderson, Connor Rogers, and Isaac Harrington back.
On the defensive end, two-time All-USA South performers Andrew Pagano and Eric Fewell return as well.
The Lions are scheduled to open the 2024 season on the road, taking on Oglethorpe on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Peach Cup Games in Mount Berry, Georgia.
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2024 USA South Coaches Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Poll |
||
| Rank | Institution (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. | Pfeiffer*^ (7) |
63 |
| 2. | Piedmont* (2) |
57 |
| 3. | Southern Virginia* |
47 |
| 4. | LaGrange |
42 |
| 5. | Methodist |
41 |
| t-6. | Greensboro |
25 |
| t-6. | Huntingdon |
25 |
| 8. | Brevard |
13 |
| 9. | William Peace |
11 |
| *Defending Regular Season Tri-Champions^Defending Tournament Champions | ||
