Merrimack Tops New England Coaches Poll
from press releases
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Led by five members of the
preseason all-New England Team, the Merrimack men's lacrosse team
has been picked as the top team in New England by the New England
Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA).
Making up nearly half (5 of 13) of the all-New England team,
Merrimack is led by senior captains Cory Spinale (Wakefield, MA)
and Mark Webber (Mansfield, MA) as the all-New England goalie and
one of four all-New England midfielders, respectively.
Spinale, a two-time NEILA all-New Englander, recorded a school
record 14-3 mark before being named to the Northeast-10
all-Conference Second Team a year ago. He was also third in
the nation with a .633 save-percentage.
Webber anchored the Warriors power play to score 18 points in 2009
to accompany Spinale on the all-Conference Second Team.
Senior Shane Mahar (Slingerlands, NY) is one of three defensemen on
the all-New England team, while junior Mike Balbuena (Falmouth, MA)
joins Webber on the midfield squad and sophomore Nick Maggio
(Winchester, MA) is the solitary specialist for the NEILA's
preseason team.
Third-year head coach Mike Morgan's returnees include eight seniors
after a school-record 14 wins and trip to the Final Four in
2009. This spring, Merrimack will take the field on February
27 against the 2009 defending champion and preseason #1 C.W. Post
on the road.
2010 NEILA Preseason Poll
1. Merrimack
2. Bentley
3. Saint Michael's
4. Saint Anselm
5. Southern New Hampshire
2010 NEILA Preseason All-New England Team
Attack:
Kevin
Gould
Bentley
Sr.
Keith
Murluzzo
SNHU
Jr.
Aaron
McNab
AIC
Jr.
Kevin
Klaskin
Assumption Sr.
Midfield:
Mike Balbuena
Merrimack Jr.
Mark
Webber
Merrimack Sr.
Brad
Tunis
Bentley
Sr.
James
Baghai
St. Michael's Sr.
Defense:
Matt
Allen
Bentley
Sr.
Shane
Mahar
Merrimack Sr.
Kevin DeBenedetto Saint Anselm
Sr.
Specialist:
Nick
Maggio
Merrimack So.
Goalie:
Corey Spinale
Merrimack Sr.
