Denison Tops 2024 Preseason Men's Lacrosse Poll

CLEVELAND, OH – Denison has been tabbed as the favorite for the 2024 North Coast Athletic Conference men’s lacrosse season, based on votes submitted by the league coaches.

The Big Red, in search of the league lead and their 22nd NCAC title, claimed seven of the possible nine first-place votes to top the league poll with 79 points. The Kenyon Owls, who look to earn their second consecutive and third overall title, took second in the voting with one first-place vote and 72 points. The Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops, also on the hunt for their 22nd conference title, collected the final first-place vote to finish third with 65 points. Oberlin (48) and Wooster (47) were separated by one point for the fourth and fifth spots, while Wittenberg (39), DePauw (25), Wabash (21), and Hiram (9) rounded out the poll in sixth, seventh, eight, and ninth, respectively.
 
Denison finished the 2023 regular season with a 7-1 mark in league play to earn a share of the NCAC championship title. After a 14-13 comeback win over Kenyon in the conference tournament final, the Big Red advanced into the third round of the NCAA tournament and closed out 2023 with a 17-4 overall record. Six 2023 all-conference selections return for Denison, highlighted by senior Luke Fisher (Alexandria, VA/St. Stephens & St. Agnes) and sophomore Grant Larson (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte County Day School), who together claimed three of the four 2023 Player of the Year honors. Fisher was named the Offensive Player of the Year after recording 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points, to go along with 12 ground balls and one caused turnover in just seven league games. Larson earned Newcomer of the Year and Specialist of the Year after dominating his opponents at the faceoff x last season. The then rookie won 95-of-124 attempts for a .766 average through eight conference games, posting double-digit wins in seven of eight league match ups in 2023. Returning alongside Fisher and Larson are a trio of seniors in Brooks Crowley (Hunting Valley, OH/University School), Owen O’Neill (Hightstown, NJ/Peddie School), and Clyde Bresnahan (Atlanta, GA/The Lovett School) as well as junior Tommy Quinson (Rye Brook, NY/Brunswick School). At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Crowley and O’Neill garnered All-NCAC first-team honors while Bresnahan claimed a second-team nod and Quinson earned third-team laurels.

The 2024 season begins on Sunday, February 11th, while the first league game is slated for Wednesday, March 20th. The NCAC Tournament will be held during the first week of May with the semifinals taking place on Wednesday, May 1st and the tournament championship on Saturday, May 4th.
  
2024 North Coast Athletic Conference
Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)
MEN
1. Denison (7) 79
2. Kenyon (1) 72
3. Ohio Wesleyan (1) 65
4. Oberlin 48
5. Wooster 47
6. Wittenberg 39
7. DePauw 25
8. Wabash 21
9. Hiram 9

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