EDISON, NJ  - (1/30/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team was picked to finish second as the MAAC released the 2019 Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday. 

In addition, three Titans were tabbed with preseason awards in senior Matthew Vangalen and juniors Alex Akins and Alex Jarzembowski. 

Detroit Mercy totaled 52 points and one first-place nod for second, just behind Monmouth, who recorded 57 points and four first-place votes. Quinnipiac was picked third at 50 points and defending champion Canisius fourth with 47 as the Bobcats earned one first-place tally and the Golden Griffins two. 

Rounding out the poll was Marist (33), Siena (23), Manhattan (18) and St. Bonaventure (8). 

Vangalen has been selected All-MAAC Second Team in his first two years as he posted a school-record 51 points putting in a career-high 31 goals with 20 assists last season. In the MAAC, he was seventh in points per game (3.19), assists per game (1.25) and goals per game (1.94) and registered three game-winning goals. He also broke the school record with 11 points and tied another pair of school records with seven goals and four assists at Manhattan, the most points by any player in the MAAC on the year and tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA on the season. 

Akins quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the league and he earned Second Team All-MAAC as a freshman and First Team accolades last season. He helped the Titan defense record 8.56 caused turnovers per game to not only lead the MAAC, but also rank eighth in the country, as well as ranking second in the conference and 19th in the nation in scoring defense at 9.38 goals per game. He tallied 11 caused turnovers and picked up a career-high 23 ground balls in 2018. 

Jarzembowski has been at his best in MAAC play in his two seasons and was recognized on the Second Team All-MAAC as a faceoff specialist last season. He won  52.1 percent of his faceoffs overall picking up a career-best 46 ground balls, but in MAAC play, he upped that to 55.3 percent winning percentage.  He tied a school record going 16-of-25 with four GB's against Marist and later equaled that feat with a 16-of-24 effort with six ground balls at Monmouth in the MAAC Championship semifinals. 

The Titans were 9-7 last season and 5-1 in the MAAC, setting a school record for most overall victories and most conference wins. 

Detroit Mercy will start the season this Saturday, Feb. 2, when the red, white and blue host Jacksonville at Total Sports Complex in Washington Township. Game time is now set for 11:30 a.m. and limited tickets are on sale ONLINE only by clicking here. 

Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
Monmouth (4) - 57
Detroit Mercy (1) - 52
Quinnipiac (1) - 50
Canisius (2) - 47
Marist - 33
Siena - 23
Manhattan - 18
St. Bonaventure - 8

2019 Preseason All-MAAC Team
Attack 
Matthew Vangalen - Detroit Mercy
Parker Giarratana - Manhattan
Foster Cuomo* - Quinnipiac

Midfield
Carter Stefaniak* - Canisius
Zach Clemente - Monmouth
Matt Frost - Quinnipiac

Defense
Alex Akins - Detroit Mercy
James Sarrocco - Marist
Chris Hervada - Monmouth

Faceoff Specialist 
Alex Jarzembowski* - Detroit Mercy

Long Stick Midfielder
Gordon Phillips - Monmouth

Short Stick Midfielder
Nick Pepe - Siena

Goalkeeper
Noah Lode -  Monmouth

Preseason Player of the Year
Foster Cuomo - Quinnipiac

*-unanimous selection