Date: January 12, 2004
Contact: Brian Laubscher (540) 458-8676
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L MEN's LAX RANKED EIGHTH BY LACROSSE MAGAZINE
Generals Open Season Feb. 26 at No. 5 Washington College

Senior Gavin Molinelli

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Lacrosse Magazine released its Division I, II and III preseason polls on Wednesday afternoon and Washington and Lee was among those cited.

The W&L men's lacrosse team is ranked eighth overall in voting conducted by the magazine staff, collegiate coaches and media members.

Two-time defending national champion Salisbury sits atop the poll and is followed by last season's runner-up, Nazareth. Middlebury, Cortland, Washington College, Gettysburg, Ithaca, W&L, Tufts and Hampden-Sydney round out the preseason Top 10. ODAC rivals Roanoke and Lynchburg rank 11th and 12th, respectively.

W&L returns five starters and 31 letterwinners from last season’s squad which posted a 14-4 overall record, won the ODAC Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Headlining the returnees is senior attackman Gavin Molinelli (Northport, N.Y./Northport), a Preseason Honorable Mention All-America selection.

Washington and Lee opens its 2005 campaign with a game at Washington College on Sat., Feb. 26 at 1:30 pm.

-- GENERALS --