Date: December 20, 2003
Contact: Brian Laubscher (540) 458-8676
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L MEN'S LACROSSE RANKED 10TH IN FACEOFF PRESEASON POLL
Martin, Grumbine and Sanders Tabbed Preseason All-American

Senior Midfielder Dustin Martin

TOWSON, Md. -- Inside Lacrosse released its Faceoff Magazine preseason Division III men's lacrosse coaches poll on Friday afternoon. Washington and Lee ranked 10th overall in the voting.

Defending national champion Salisbury sits atop the poll with 68 first-place votes. Middlebury, last season's NCAA Runner-up, is second in the poll after receiving four first-place votes. Following Middlebury is Cortland, Washington College, Whittier, Ithaca, Hampden-Sydney, Gettysburg, Lynchburg and Washington and Lee. Roanoke was a fourth ODAC school to crack the poll at No. 16.

W&L returns six starters from the 2003 squad which posted a 9-5 overall record, 4-2 in the ODAC. The Generals lost three games in overtime and four by a goal, including the ODAC Championship game to Lynchburg, 6-5.

Leading the returnees are a trio Faceoff Preseason All-Americans in seniors Dustin Martin (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius), Lawson Grumbine (Owings Mills, Md./Gilman) and Ansel Sanders (White Stone, Va./Woodberry Forest).

Martin, a midfielder, was a second team selection after garnering USILA Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-ODAC honors last season. He tallied 31 points on 22 goals and nine assists in 2003 and enters his final campaign with 73 career points on 56 goals and 17 assists.

A defenseman, Grumbine was an honorable mention selection after earning First Team All-ODAC honors last season. He was a major cog in the Generals' defense which allowed an average of just 5.93 goals per game, third in Division III. He also picked up 37 ground balls on the season.

Sanders joined Grumbine on the Preseason Honorable Mention All-America team. An Honorable Mention USILA All-American last season, he posted a .608 save percentage and ranked second in Division III in goals-against average (5.89). He enters his final campaign with a .602 career save percentage.

Washington and Lee begins the 2004 season on February 20 as it travels to Greensboro College for a 3:30 pm contest.

-- GENERALS --