Lax Magazine Preseason Top 20 - MCLA D1

[LaxTV_Admin]

Lacrosse Magazine released their preseason top 20. Check it out here,

1. Arizona State
2. Colorado State
3. Colorado
4. Brigham Young
5. Chapman
6. UC Santa Barbara
7. Michigan State
8. Grand Canyon
9. Oregon
10. Sonoma State
11. Boston College
12. Stanford
13. California
14. Texas
15. Connecticut
16. Minnesota-Duluth
17. Cal Poly
18. Georgia Tech
19. Westminster
20. Simon Fraser

Source - http://www.laxmagazine.com/college_men/ ... son_top_20

[LaxTV_Admin]

Tim Haslam breaks down the pre-season rankings

With 2013 MCLA Champion Colorado State and runner-up Colorado both reeling from graduation losses, Arizona State has a big chance to step in and make its mark this spring, ranked No. 1 in Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Top 20 for the MCLA. Why are the Sun Devils qualified for the top spot? Where will the rest of the chips fall? The case for each of our Top 20 teams is below.

Lacrosse Magazine will continue its 2014 college lacrosse preview throughout January and into February, with team-by-team breakdowns of the top teams in NCAA Division I, II and III, and NJCAA and club men's and women's lacrosse. Follow the countdown atLaxMagazine.com/LMranks and on Twitter at #LMranks.

1. Arizona State (18-3) | Semifinalist

Justin Straker, Dan Davis and Logan Quinn will look to replace All-American Payson Clark. Sophomore goalie Preston Anderson will look to lead the defense as the Sun Devils chase the SLC Championship and a trip to the national tournament.

2. Colorado State (21-0) | National Champion

The two-time national champions will have their work cut out for them. Not only do they have one of the toughest schedules, but they also graduated four defenders, an LSM, six key midfielders and their leading scorer. Needless to say, the Rams will look to reload instead of rebuild.

3. Colorado (18-3) | Runner-up

The biggest loss for the Buffaloes will be All-American goalie Brad Macnee, who finished his career with 703 saves and a career save percentage of 58 percent. Junior Jace Gan and senior Jack Cranston will hope to make up for the loss on the defensive end by leading an already solid offense.

4. Brigham Young (16-5) | Semifinalist

Junior attackman Mike Fabrizio tallied 52 goals and 32 assists last season and will surely lead the Cougar attack again. BYU takes to the road early and often, playing eight of their first nine games on the road.

5. Chapman (13-6) | First Round

The Panthers will benefit the most from the tournament moving to the West Coast with the semifinals and championship game being held in their stadium. Chapman will have to prove they belong and will have ample opportunity as they facing nine of the Top 20.

6. UC Santa Barbara (14-7) | Quarterfinalist

The Gauchos return senior goalie Conrad Carlson, who will lead a defense that kept them in games. Two road trips will test the Gauchos, who will take on Sonoma State and California in late February and a trip to Utah in late March to visit Westminster and BYU in 3 days.

7. Michigan State (14-3) | Quarterfinalist

Junior Goalie Matt Allemang will once again lead the defense on a team that didn't allow any opponent to score double digits in 2013 en route to a CCLA title. Michigan State will take a road trip in early March to face BYU and Colorado State in Colorado that will give the Spartans an early measuring stick.

8. Grand Canyon (8-6) | First Round

The Lopes made it to the tournament in their first year of D-I play and will look to continue their success in 2014. Senior Carson Barton (55g, 30a) hopes to lead the team past the first round. Grand Canyon will open their season with Colorado State and Minn-Duluth.

9. Oregon (12-6) | Quarterfinalist

Seniors Benton Souers (40g, 20a) and Evan Merritt (32g, 9a) will look to lead the Ducks to Orange County and make it past the quarterfinals. Oregon will face early tests against BYU, Colorado State and Simon Fraser.


An early western road trip to face BYU, Colorado and Chapman should paint a strong picture of whether Boston College can contend in 2014. (Jim Cowsert)
10. Sonoma State (13-5) | Quarterfinalist

First year head coach Panchito Ojeda will look to have the Seawolves ready to defend their WCLL regular season title and make it back to the national tournament.

Read the full story - http://www.laxmagazine.com/college_men/ ... _breakdown