Date: February 14, 2003
Contact: Brian Laubscher (540) 458-8676
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L MEN'S LACROSSE PICKED SECOND IN ODAC COACHES POLL
Generals Look To Defend 2002 ODAC Tournament Title

W&L looks to defend its 2002 ODAC Title

SALEM, Va. -- The Washington and Lee men's lacrosse team is ranked second in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll which was released on Friday afternoon.

The Generals received three first-place votes, however, Hampden-Sydney sits atop the poll after posting four first-place selections. Lynchburg, Roanoke, Randolph-Macon (T5th), Virginia Wesleyan (T5th) and Guilford round out the poll.

Washington and Lee returns eight starters and 29 lettermen from last season's squad, including three Preseason All-Americans in senior midfielder Tom Melanson (Baltimore, Md./Loyola), senior defenseman Matt Conners (Burke, Va./Robinson) and junior goalie Ansel Sanders (Weems, Va./Woodberry Forest). In addition, W&L welcomes back eight of its top 10 scorers led by junior attackman Matt Fink (Wilmington, Del./Tatnall), who totaled 60 points on 45 goals and 15 assists.

W&L, ranked sixth in the Inside Lacrosse/Faceoff Magazine preseason Division III poll, finished the 2002 season with a 14-4 overall record. The Generals won the ODAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals before falling to eventual runner-up, Gettysburg.

The Generals begin the 2003 season by hosting Bates College on Sat., Feb. 22 at 1:30 pm.

-- GENERALS --