The Roanoke College men’s lacrosse team will open the 2018 season on Friday when the Maroons play host to Colorado College at Kerr Stadium in Salem, beginning at 4 pm.
Roanoke was recently ranked fourth in the conference in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. Hampden-Sydney College was a surprise number one selection, collecting seven first place votes on the way to 77 points. Lynchburg College garnered two top nods and 72 overall tallies. Washington and Lee University picked up the remaining first place vote, but its 64 points are just one clear of fourth place Roanoke College.
ODAC teams are well-represented in three major national preseason polls. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) features three league squads in its annual Division III/Nike Coaches Poll. Lynchburg sits 12th with Roanoke slotted 18th and Washington and Lee 20th in the 20-team listing. Salisbury stands atop the rankings.
The USILA also puts out a Division III Player of the Year “Watchlist,” which touts Roanoke defenseman Conn Curry.
Four conference squads earned ratings in the Division III Face-Off-Yearbook Rankings by Inside Lacrosse. Lynchburg again tops the league contingent, this time in 10th position. Roanoke and Hampden-Sydney sit 18th and 19th, respectively, while Washington and Lee appears 22nd. Salisbury is again perched as the number one preseason team.
The final pundit poll by US Lacrosse Magazine ranks two ODAC teams with two more earning mentions. Lynchburg is tabbed ninth with Roanoke earning an 18th ranking in the 20-team survey. Hampden-Sydney and Washington and Lee both were noted as “also considered” towards the listing that features Wesleyan University (Conn.) as the top-ranked program.
Roanoke welcomes back attackman Jason Sarro, who earned ODAC Rookie of the Year laurels last season. He’s joined by midfielder Iv Stucker and Curry from last season’s first team.
The Maroons will play their first three games of the season at home. After Friday’s game with Colorado College RC will host Sewanee on Saturday, February 24, and Eastern on Wednesday, February 28. The first road trip is March 4 at Denison University.