Feb. 22, 2006

New York, N.Y. - Mercyhurst, in its first season as an associate member of the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC), is picked sixth in a preseason poll of NYCAC coaches.

C.W. Post, which returns nine starters from a squad which finished 4-1 in NYCAC play (9-5 overall) to place second in the conference and receive a bid to the 2005 NCAA Division II Championships, has been selected to claim the top prize in 2006. NYIT, last year's NCAA Division II champion and NYCAC champion, which returns five starters, was picked to finish second, while Adelphi, with four starters back from last year's team, placed third in the poll.

Adelphi senior attacker Wes Green (Adelaide, Australia) is the coaches' preseason Player of the Year selection. Green was named to the NYCAC All-Conference First Team last season as well as NCAA First Team All-America. Last spring, he scored 37 goals and collected 12 assists for the Panthers.

Other notable preseason players were selected for the 2006 NYCAC Preseason All-Conference team.

C.W. Post had three players voted to the squad. They include junior defender Rob Blount (Inwood, N.Y.); senior midfielder Ralph Cariano (Huntington, N.Y.); and senior midfielder Tim Paulson (Montrose, N.Y.).

Three NYIT players received All-Conference honors. They include senior attacker Joe Droge (Port Jefferson, N.Y.); senior defender Steven Sorrentino (East Meadow, N.Y.); and senior specialist Joe Vasold (Wantagh, N.Y.).

Dowling also had three players awarded All-Conference honors. They include junior defender Vin Funaro (Patchogue, N.Y.); junior midfielder CJ Leary (Islip, N.Y.); and senior long stick Juan Javier Munguia (Bay Shore, N.Y.).

Adelphi had two of its players named to the All-Conference team. Junior midfielder Stephen Mortimer (Adelaide, Australia) joins player of the year Green in receiving preseason accolades.

Molloy's senior goalkeeper Joe Labella (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) and senior attacker Steve Maier (Farmingdale, N.Y.) were also recognized as preseason All-Conference players.

"The NYCAC had two of the Final Four participants last year and is perhaps the strongest lacrosse conference in the country," said Ed Manetta, NYCAC Commissioner. "We expect another exciting run for the championship and, hopefully, multiple NCAA Division II Tournament teams again in 2006."

C.W. Post received three first place votes, NYIT received two and third seed Adelphi received one in the preseason poll.

NYIT defeated C.W. Post, 21-9, in the 2005 NCAA Division II Championship semifinal match. The Bears went on to top Limestone, 14-13, in overtime to win the title.

About the NYCAC

The New York Collegiate Athletic Conference was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among NYCAC member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The NYCAC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits.

NYCAC members for 2005-2006 include: Adelphi University (Garden City, N.Y.); University of Bridgeport (Conn.); Concordia College (Bronxville, N.Y.); C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (Brookville, N.Y.); Dowling College (Oakdale, N.Y.); Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy College (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); University of New Haven (Conn.); New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y.); Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.).

Mercyhurst College (Erie, Pa.) is an associate member of the conference in men's lacrosse.

2005-06 NYCAC MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL

(first place votes in parentheses)
1. C.W. Post (3)
2. NYIT (2)
3. Adelphi (1)
4. Molloy
5. Dowling
6. Mercyhurst

Preseason All-NYCAC Conference Team:
Rob Blount, C.W. Post, Jr., 6'0", D
Joe Droge, NYIT, Sr., 5'11", A
Ralph Cariano, C.W. Post, Sr., 5'9", M
Vin Funaro, Dowling, Jr., 6'0", D
Wes Green, Adelphi, Sr., 6'0", A
Joe Labella, Molloy, Sr., 6'1", G
CJ Leary, Dowling, Jr., 6'1", M
Steve Maier, Molloy, Sr., 6'1", A
Stephen Mortimer, Adelphi, Jr., 6'0", M
Juan Javier Munguia, Dowling, Sr., 5'8", LS
Tim Paulson, C.W. Post, Sr., 5'8", M
Steven Sorrentino, NYIT, Sr., 5'10", D
Joe Vasold, NYIT, Sr., 5'10", S

Preseason Player of the Year:
Wes Green, Adelphi, Sr., 6'0", A