W&L RANKED FIFTH IN FACEOFF '02 COLLEGE LACROSSE YEARBOOK
Tom Melanson Tabbed Preseason First Team All-American

TOWSON, Md. -- The Faceoff 2002 College Lacrosse Yearbook has released its preseason rankings and All-America teams. Washington and Lee is ranked fifth in the Division III poll, while the Generals also claim three preseason All-America selections.

Leading the preseason Top 10 is two-time defending national champion Middlebury, followed by last season's runner-up Gettysburg, Nazareth, Salisbury, W&L, Denison, Ithaca, Springfield, Ohio Wesleyan and Washington College. Old Dominion Athletic Conference foes Hampden-Sydney (11) and Roanoke (20) also cracked the Top 20. The Generals received three first place votes in the poll.

Junior midfielder Tom Melanson (Baltimore, Md./Loyola) is cited as a First Team All-America selection as a faceoff specialist, while senior attackman Andrew Barnett (Darien, Conn./Darien) and junior defenseman Matt Conners (Burke, Va./Robinson) are honorable mention picks.

Melanson earned First Team All-ODAC and USILA Honorable Mention All-America honors last season after winning 197-of-268 (.735) faceoffs. He also tallied 14 points on nine goals and five assists.

Barnett was an Honorable Mention All-ODAC selection in 2001 following his best season in a W&L uniform. Barnett was third on the team in scoring with 48 points on 29 goals and 19 assists.

Conners helped Washington and Lee lead the nation in scoring defense (4.87 gpg) last season. He also scored one goal and assisted on another.

Washington and Lee finished the 2001 season with a 14-1 overall record. The Generals were ranked No. 1 in the USILA Division III poll for four weeks during the season.