Inside Lacrosse's Face-Off Yearbook MAAC Preseason Poll
BALTIMORE (1/2/2015) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team was picked to tie for second place and four Titans were named Preseason All-Conference in the annual
Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook.
Siena was the conference favorite, while Detroit and Marist tied for second and Canisius claimed fourth, the same four teams that made the MAAC Championship last season. Quinnipiac, Manhattan and Monmouth rounded out the poll the publication did in conjunction with the league's head coaches.
Senior attackman
Shayne Adams, senior midfielder
Mike Birney, junior defenseman
Paul Bitetti and sophomore goalie
Jason Weber were each tabbed to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Adams is a three-time All-MAAC honoree, including first team in 2011 and 2014. He ended last season fifth in Division I and led the MAAC with 3.00 goals per game as he tallied a MAAC-best 42 goals to go along with 49 points – both school records. He will begin his final collegiate season as the program's all-time leader with 120 goals and is second at 139 points, seven away from the top spot.
Birney was Second Team All-MAAC for the second-straight season in 2014 as he was second on the team with 18 goals and fifth with 25 points. He had five multi-goal games as a junior and is tied for fourth in school history in goals (52) and seventh in points (71).
Bitetti was a First Team All-MAAC selection as a sophomore, where he topped the squad with a career-high 24 caused turnovers and ended the year 12th in Division I and leading the MAAC with 1.85 caused turnovers per game.
Weber was recently named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American By Inside Lacrosse after his great rookie season, where he was the MAAC Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAAC. He led the country with 16.27 saves per game and a .642 save percentage – both school records – and was 16th in the nation with a MAAC-best 9.07 goals against average.
Detroit will start up practice again next week as the Titans get ready for the 2015 campaign, which will begin at home against Ohio State on Feb. 7. The game will be played indoors at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. Tickets for the event will be available in the near future.
