December 9, 2009

Salisbury picked No. 4 by Face-Off Yearbook

BALTIMORE - The Salisbury University men's lacrosse team has been picked as the No. 4 team in the nation in the preseason Division III poll selected by the 2010 Face-off Yearbook. Since the inception of the top 20 preseason rankings in 1994, the Sea Gulls have never been ranked lower than fourth.

Salisbury's 2010 schedule features four teams ranked in the top 20 preseason rankings, including the top three ranked teams in the poll. The four teams the Gulls will square off with are No. 18 Lynchburg College (Feb. 20 at home), No. 1 SUNY Cortland (March 28 at Haverford College), No. 3 Gettysburg College (March 27 on the road) and No. 2 Stevenson University (April 3 on the road). Stevenson was picked to finish first in the preseason All-CAC poll.

The annual preview guide for men's college lacrosse also named six Sea Gulls, out of 90 players, to one of the three preseason Division III All-American teams or honorable mention.

Salisbury senior midfielder Mike Von Kamecke (Winter Park, Fla.) was the lone Gull on the preseason All-American first team. Senior face-off specialist Ryan Finch (Finksburg, Md.) and senior long-stick midfielder Connor Burgasser (Mendon, N.Y.) were each named to the second team. SU junior defender Collin Tokosch (Arnold, Md.), sophomore midfielder Sam Bradman (Canton, N.Y.) and sophomore attackman Matt Cannone (Bayport, N.Y.) were each honorable mention selections.

Von Kamecke, a two-time honorable mention All-American, finished fifth in scoring with 44 points (27 g, 17 a) for the Sea Gulls in 2009. In addition, Von Kamecke was fourth in man-up goals with eight, and scored one game-winning goal. The two-way midfielder played in all 20 games and scooped up 34 ground balls and caused five turnovers. The Winter Park, Fla., native was also selected to the preseason All-Capital Athletic Conference team by the Face-off Yearbook.

Finch, a second-team All-CAC performer in 2009, returns for his senior season as one of the top face-off specialists in the nation. The Finksburg, Md., native played and started all 20 games last season, and amassed a 66.1 faceoff percent (265-of-401). Finch led the team in ground balls with 175 and recorded seven points on one goal and six assists. Finch received preseason All-CAC accolades as well.

Burgasser returns for his senior season and was recently selected as a team captain along with other seniors Jeff Breeding (Cockeysville, Md.), Finch, Will Poletis (Baltimore, Md.) and Von Kamecke. The Mendon, N.Y., native played and started in all 20 contests for the Sea Gulls in 2009, and caused a team-high 34 turnovers. In addition, Burgasser scooped up 54 ground balls, tops among long-poles on the roster, and scored two goals. Burgasser was also selected to the preseason All-CAC team.

Tokosch is set to return for his third season in the maroon and gold, and is expected to have a breakout season in 2010. The preseason honorable mention accolade is his first at SU; he was also was named to the preseason All-CAC team. Last season, Tokosch started all 20 games and was second on the team in caused turnovers with 29. The 6-foot-3 defender scooped up 36 ground balls for SU in 2009.

Bradman had a strong first season for the Sea Gulls in 2009, as he finished sixth overall in scoring with 41 points (17 goals and 24 assists). The two-way midfielder played in all 20 games and finished with 22 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.

Cannone, an honorable mention All-American selection in 2009, returns for his second season with the Sea Gulls. The Bayport, N.Y., native is the top returning point scorer from last year's team as he produced 67 points (53 goals and 14 assists). Cannone finished tied for second on man-up goals with nine, and he also had two game-winning goals. Cannone caused seven turnovers and scooped up 28 ground balls. Cannone was named to the preseason All-CAC team.

There are 11 players from the CAC represented on this year's preseason All-American teams including three first-team selections, three on the second-team, two on the third team and three honorable mentions.  

The yearbook is currently available on newsstands and can be ordered for $9.95 plus shipping and handling through the Inside Lacrosse Web site https://shop.insidelacrosse.com/

2010 Face-Off Yearbook Division III Preseason Top 20

  • 1. SUNY Cortland
  • 2. Stevenson
  • 3. Gettysburg
  • 4. SALISBURY
  • 5. Roanoke
  • 6. Middlebury
  • 7. Western New England
  • 8. Tufts
  • 9. Denison
  • 10. Cabrini
  • 11. Wesleyan
  • 12. Haverford
  • 13. Ithaca
  • 14. Washington & Lee
  • 15. SUNY Geneseo
  • 16. St. Lawrence
  • 17. Bowdoin
  • 18. Lynchburg
  • 19. Nazareth
  • 20. Endicott

Teams in italic are Salisbury opponents in 2010

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