Dec. 7, 2010

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The two-time defending MAAC Regular Season Champion Siena Men's Lacrosse team has been picked as the team to beat in the InsideLacrosse.com Face-Off Yearbook Preseason rankings. The Saints take aim at their third consecutive conference title when they open the 2011 season on Feb. 12 at defending National Champion Duke.

Siena, which has won a program record-tying 12 games each of the past two seasons and 44 games over the past four years, tops the publication's poll ahead of Marist and new conference member Jacksonville. Canisius, Detroit, Manhattan and VMI round out the seven-team conference rankings.

The Saints, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2009, made it to the MAAC Championship game last season and finished with a 12-5 overall record. Siena returns six starters including six of its top-nine scorers from a season ago.

Additionally, Bryan Neufeld, Duncan Seale and Tom Morr were selected to the 13-member Preseason All-Conference Team. Neufeld and Seale were named to the All-MAAC First team following last season, while Morr is expected to take over in goal for the Saints this season.

A junior attackman, Neufeld led the Saints in both goals (41) and game-winning goals (four) while finishing second on the team with 48 points in 2010. A senior defender, Seale started 16 of 17 games played last season, anchoring a defensive unit that finished fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 8.06 goals per game. Morr red-shirted last season, but is highly thought after and expected to step right in and make a huge impact in goal this season.

Also leading the Saints in 2011 will be captain John Rogener who was an All-MAAC Second Team selection as a junior last season when he registered 26 points and finished second on the team with 51 groundballs.