Carrigan named to preseason All-SAC Second Team
Mars Hill senior attacker Zac Carrigan was named to the 2021 preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team while the Lions were pegged ninth in the preseason poll the league announced Wednesday morning.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne has been picked to finish first in the South Atlantic Conference preseason men's lacrosse poll, which was announced by the league office today. The League's head coaches gave the Bears 10 first place votes and a total of 110 points.
Zac Carrigan last season led the league in goals before the cancelation due to COVID-19. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native netted 26 goals and was fourth in the league with 31 points.
Limestone was voted No. 2 in the poll with 100 points, while Wingate was voted No. 3 with 90 points and the only remaining first place vote. Queens came in fourth with 86 points, and Catawba took the No. 5 spot with 71 points. Coker was voted No. 6 with 59 points and Tusculum followed closely behind at No. 7 with 57 points. Coming in at No. 8 with 49 points is Newberry, followed by Mars Hill at No. 9 with 40 points. Rounding us out this year is Lincoln Memorial at No. 10 with 31 points and Anderson at No. 11 with 22 points.
The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason all-conference players. Bobby Padden from Wingate, Kealan Pilon from Queens and Ian Cook from Lincoln Memorial were named the first team attackers.
Highlighting the midfield selections were first teamers Eric Dickinson from Lenoir-Rhyne, Ethan Irizarry from Coker and Zachary Sunderland from Newberry.
Reese Orman of Wingate was named the preseason first team long pole midfielder, while teammate James Houston was named a first team defender. Also earning preseason first team honors at defense were Payton Leonard from Catawba and Connor Stanley from Lenoir-Rhyne.
Newberry's Justin Messersmith and Noah Johnson of Lenoir-Rhyne were the final two first team selections. Messersmith was named the team's specialist, while Johnson was named the goalie.
The 2021 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse schedule is set to start at the end of January. The 2021 South Atlantic Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship is scheduled for April 20, 23 and 25 with quarterfinals at campus sites and the semifinals and finals at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
2021 SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Rank School (1st place votes) Points
1 Lenoir-Rhyne (10) 110
2 Limestone 100
3 Wingate (1) 90
4 Queens 86
5 Catawba 71
6 Coker 59
7 Tusculum 57
8 Newberry 49
9 Mars Hill 40
10 Lincoln Memorial 31
11 Anderson 22
2021 SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference
All-SAC First Team
A – Bobby Padden, Wingate
A – Kealan Pilon, Queens
A – Ian Cook, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Eric Dickinson, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Ethan Irizarry, Coker
MF – Zachary Sunderland, Newberry
D – Payton Leonard, Catawba
D – Connor Stanley, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – James Houston, Wingate
LP – Reese Orman, Wingate
Spec. – Justin Messersmith, Newberry
GK – Noah Johnson, Lenoir-Rhyne
All-SAC Second Team
A – Quinn Tallant, Queens
A – Joe Venazio, Coker
A – Myles Moffat, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Kevin Barry, Queens
MF – Zac Carrigan, Mars Hill
MF – Danny Riley, Wingate
D – James Brugger, Coker
D – Nathan Caldwell, Lincoln Memorial
D – Jordan Sullivan, Lincoln Memorial
LP – Cameron King, Newberry
Spec. – Noah Flasch, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Kyle Hornik, Queens
