NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the second straight season, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will kick off the year ranked in the top-20 nationally as the Captains were slotted 13th in the "Inside Lacrosse" Preseason Poll, which was published in "The Face-Off Yearbook" this week.
The Captains, who opened the 2019 campaign slotted 11th in the same poll, were one of three teams from the Capital Athletic Conference listed in the 2020 rankings. Salisbury was placed second in the preseason poll, while York (Pa.) was eighth.
In addition to their league rivals, Christopher Newport will face another gauntlet in 2020 with four non-conference opponents ranked in the national preseason poll. The Captains will host No. 10 Washington & Lee and No. 19 Stevenson during a pair of highly anticipated March showdowns. Additionally, the squad will travel to Owings Mills, Maryland for neutral-site tilts against No. 14 Dickinson and No. 16 Lynchburg at the Mustang Classic.
Christopher Newport welcomes back an impressive veteran contingent from last year's team, which finished with a 12-7 record. Headlining the experienced portion of the roster,
Scott McAneney,
Dylan Rice, and
Max Wayne are all reigning USILA All-Americans. McAneney established a new school record with a .580 save percentage in 2019, while Wayne ranked ninth in the NCAA with 51 caused turnovers. Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Rice led the squad with 52 goals.
Along with the national honorees, four other Captains return after starting over half of the games last year.
Will Stockhausen and
Brady Altobello were All-Conference selections in 2019, while
Jackson Deal and
Jordan Lee were mainstays in the starting lineup as well.
Among other players back for another go-around,
Phoenix Hines ranked sixth in the NCAA with 57 caused turnovers last season, while
Spencer Shipman,
Pat Matsko,
Mac Bohns, and
Glenn Doering join McAneney as members of Christopher Newport's senior class.
The Captains will kick off the 2020 campaign on February 15 with a 1 p.m. battle at Washington (Md.).
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