January 3, 2005

Salisbury Men’s Lacrosse Tabbed #1 in 2005 Preseason Poll
Two-Time Defending Champion Atop Face-Off Yearbook/Inside Lacrosse Ranking

Coming off back-to-back NCAA Division III national championships in 2003 and 2004, the Salisbury University men’s lacrosse team has been selected as the preseason favorite in 2005. The Sea Gulls received 81 of 88 first-place votes to earn the number one ranking in the 2005 preseason coaches poll released by Face-Off Yearbook and Inside Lacrosse.

Salisbury is followed in the ranking by Nazareth, Middlebury and Cortland, all of which received first-place votes. Washington College rounds out the top five. The poll was compiled based on voting by 88 NCAA Division III coaches.

The Sea Gulls captured their second straight and fifth overall NCAA title with a 13-9 win over Nazareth in the 2004 championship game. Salisbury registered its third undefeated season in team history while finishing with a final 20-0 record.

Head Coach Jim Berkman, set to begin his 17th season at SU, expects to return 28 letterwinners in 2005, including All-Americans Jeff Bigas (defense), Sean White (long-stick midfielder), Justin Smith (midfield) and Dan Korpon (goalie).

Salisbury opens the new season on February 19 at Virginia Wesleyan.

Face-Off Yearbook’s 2005 Preseason Poll
1. Salisbury - 1,754 points (81 first place votes)
2. Nazareth - 1,590 points (2 first place votes)
3. Middlebury - 1,532 points (2 first place votes)
4. Cortland - 1,478 points (3 first place votes)
5. Washington - 1,416 points
6. Gettysburg - 1,320 points
7. Ithaca - 1,114 points
8. Washington and Lee - 1,062 points
9. Tufts - 892 points
10. Whittier - 746 points
11. Springfield - 670 points
12. St. Lawrence - 592 points
13. RIT - 558 points
14. Hampden-Sydney - 498 points
15. Roanoke - 486 points
16. Amherst - 468 points
17. Wesleyan - 430 points
18. Stevens Tech  - 308 points
19. Lynchburg - 272 points
20. Geneseo - 219 points

Face-Off Yearbook/Inside Lacrosse