NEWTON, Mass. (2/15/17) -- The Lasell College men's lacrosse team was predicted to finish second in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll, as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon in advance of the upcoming 2017 season.

Lasell trailed only defending GNAC champion Emmanuel in the annual ranking of the league's nine head coaches, earning 70 total points. The Saints garnered 73 points and six first-place votes, while Norwich and Mount Ida combined for the other three top votes.

The Lasers finished with a 12-5 overall record in 2016, while a 6-2 mark in GNAC play was good enough for their second second-place finish in the last three seasons. Lasell won four of its final five regular-season games, and beat Norwich in the GNAC semifinals before playing Emmanuel to a one-goal game in its second-ever championship appearance.

Lasell had six players earn All-GNAC honors last season, including a trio of returners in sophomore Ryan Madden (Hingham, Mass.), senior Connor Johnson (Hampstead, N.H.) and junior Austin Tomasetti (Elmsford, N.Y.). Senior Anthony Saitta (Derry, N.H.) is the lone captain for second-year head coach Bill Mason.

Senior Josh Gallant (Hampstead, N.H.) was the team's top scorer a year ago, netting 40 goals and adding nine assists, while Madden earned All-GNAC Second Team honors after posting 45 points, including 37 goals.

Lasell begins its season and a stretch of seven consecutive non-conference games on Saturday, February 25 when it travels south to take on Coast Guard at 3:00 p.m. The Lasers' home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8 against Plymouth State.