Salve Regina tabbed fourth in TCCC Preseason Coaches Poll

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University men's lacrosse team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2010 The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) preseason poll, which was conducted amongst the league's head coaches.

The Seahawks - who received 90 points in the poll - posted their second-highest win total (10) in program history and advanced to TCCC Semifinals for the third-consecutive season in 2009. Junior Brendan Rooney (West Newton, Mass.) led the Seahawks and TCCC in both goals (41) and points (63), earning him second team all-conference honors. Sophomore Chris Walker (Marshfield, Mass.) was second in goals (37), assists (14), and points (51) in his first season in Newport, and classmate Brendan Carroll (Garden City, N.Y.) notched 27 goals, eight assists, and 35 points to place third on head coach Patrick Cooney's squad.

"The team is excited for the 2010 season to get underway. Our men have prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead," said Cooney. "We are especially proud of our eight seniors. All have been outstanding members of the Salve Regina community and we look forward to celebrating their graduation this May."

On defense, Cooney welcomes back senior all-conference selection Nate Burns (Sandwich, Mass.), who is currently a defenseman on the men's ice hockey team. Last season, Burns collected 81 ground balls while classmate Nolan McGarrity (Verona, N.J.) recorded 54. A key for the Seahawk defense this season will be the return of Nick Clark (Rye, N.H.), who missed virtually all of the 2009 season with an injury.

Two-time defending conference champion Western New England received nine of the 11 first-place votes and 119 total points to top the poll. Endicott was second with 112 points and the two remaining first-place votes, followed by Roger Williams in third place with 91 points. The Golden Bears begin the season ranked seventh by Inside Lacrosse while the Gulls are 18th.

New England College - whom the Seahawks defeated in the conference quarterfinals last season - was tabbed fifth with 73 points. Gordon (65 points), University of New England (53), Curry (42), Wentworth (41), Nichols (27), and Anna Maria (13) - which joins TCCC competition in 2010 - round out the poll.

The Seahawks open their season on March 3 when they host Umass Dartmouth at Gaudet Field at 3:30 p.m. The contest will be the first-ever SRU home lacrosse game played on turf.