WORCESTER, Mass. – After finishing seventh in the conference a season ago, the Assumption men's lacrosse team was picked eighth in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
The Hounds and first-year head coach Guy Bourdon were picked eighth with 56 points. Assumption sits ahead of Saint Rose by five points, and trails Southern N.H. by just one point as the Penmen had 57 points. Defending National Champion and NE10 Champion Merrimack sits atop the preseason poll with 121 points and 11 first place votes. Le Moyne is second with 109 points, and Adelphi is third with 99 points and one first place vote. Saint Anselm (94) and Pace (79) rounded out the top five. To view the complete NE10 release, click here.
Assumption is coming off a seventh place finish in the NE10 last year as the Hounds concluded with a record of 7-6 and 5-6 in conference play. The 2019 squad returns eight seniors, 12 juniors, and six sophomores who combined to score 140 goals last season. Assumption brings back all three of their top goal scorers from last season. Senior Dan Farrell (Norwood, Mass. / Norwood) had 29 goals and 20 assists while senior Travis Reid (Raynham, Mass. / Bridgewater Raynham) posted 51 points on 32 goals and 19 assists, and junior Brett Jennings (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central) scored 23 times.
The Hounds also return senior goalie Colby Hamwey (West Yarmouth, Mass. / Wilbraham & Monson). Hamwey started 13 games last year, recording 139 saves with a 55.2% save percentage and was NEILA All-New England selection. Assumption also brings back a number of starting defenders and midfielders in front of Hamwey, including senior Adam Burns (Braintree, Mass. / Archbishop Williams) and junior Tim Tierney (Framingham, Mass. / Framingham).
Assumption opens its 2019 season at Adelphi on Saturday February 16 at 1:00 p.m. The Hounds fell 17-10 to the Panthers at home last season.