EDISON, NJ (1/28/2020) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team was picked to finish second and five Titans garnered preseason All-League as the MAAC announced its preseason poll and teams on Tuesday morning.

The poll and teams are derived from all the coaches.

Marist was picked to win the league with 63 votes and seven first-place nods, while the Titans totaled 49 points and one first-place tally. Quinnipiac was slated third, Canisius fourth and Monmouth fifth. 

The Titans saw five players on the preseason team in seniors Alex Akins, Seth Mendell and Sam McClain along with juniors Paul Manuszak and Logan Shamblin. Akins and Manuszak were unanimous selections. 

Akins is a three-time All-League pick on defense as he led the team with a career-high 18 caused turnovers and was seventh with a career-best 27 ground balls as a junior. He posted a career-best four caused turnovers and picked up five ground balls against Canisius.

Manuszak is the reigning MAAC LSM of the Year as he is coming off a career season recording career highs in every category with nine points, six goals, three assists, 17 caused turnovers and 72 ground balls. He finished second on the squad in caused turnovers and ground balls and was fifth in the conference and 45th in DI with 4.80 ground balls per game. His 72 GB's and 4.80 per game were both fifth in school history.

McClain was a Second Team All-MAAC honoree last season as he recorded 14 caused turnovers - third on the team - and 30 ground balls - tied for fifth on the squad. One of his best games came against Marquette as he shut down All-BIG EAST First Team selection John Wagner, holding the Golden Eagles attackman to just two assists and no goals on his 10 shots, to go with a caused turnover and two ground balls in the Titans' win at Marquette.

Mendell tallied a team-high 37 goals and was second with 44 points last season, leading the MAAC in goals per game (2.64), 28th in the nation, and was also tied for first on the team and in the conference with seven man-up goals, which was 12th in the country. He scored a goal in 13 of his 14 games, including 10 multi-goal contests, with eight hat tricks. 

Shamblin was tabbed the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Year last year as he was third in the MAAC with a career-best 11.47 saves per game, fifth in school history, while his 172 saves was also a career-best and fifth in the record books. He tallied a .512 save percentage and an 11.93 goals against mark along with six caused turnovers and 32 ground balls, fifth on the squad, and in MAAC play, he led the league in save percentage (.616) and with 14.0 saves per game, while posting an 8.71 goals-against average.

The Titans will begin their season on Saturday in Jacksonville.