Jan. 23, 2013

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - With the return of its top two leading scorers and best close defenseman from a year ago, head coaches and sports information directors from around the league predicted Army to finish third in the 2013 Patriot League Preseason Poll, released via conference call on Wednesday morning. In addition, Garrett Thul, John Glesener and Brendan Buckley garnered preseason all-league honors in the inaugural season of the awards.

Coming off a 7-8 season during which they made a seventh-straight Patriot League Tournament appearance under current head coach Joe Alberici, the Black Knights garnered 48 points to land third in the preseason poll. With 69 points and nine first-place votes, Lehigh is predicted to defend its Patriot League title. Colgate followed in second place with 65 points and the remaining five first-place votes. Following Army in order are Bucknell (43 points), Navy (35), Holy Cross (20) and Lafayette (14).

One of the most prolific attackmen in the country, Thul is a two-time All-America selection and three-time All-Patriot League selection. He enters the 2013 season riding a 39 goal-scoring streak, which is the second longest active streak in the nation, and is sitting on 122 career goals. Thul ranks fifth on Army's career goal-scoring list and sixth in Patriot League history. He is on pace to challenge Army all-time goals leader Scott Finlay '78, who owns the record with 140 career goals. A native of Flemington, N.J., Thul has made the Tewaaraton Trophy Award Top 25 Watch List in each of the last two seasons. The 6-3 scoring machine recently went as the 21st overall pick in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft to the Hamilton Nationals.

Glesener complemented Thul as Army's top two scorers a season ago, totaling 33 points as a freshman out of the Black Knights' midfield. Expected to make the move to attack this season, Glesener paced Army with 17 assists to go with 16 goals. This is the second major honor Glesener has received from Inside Lacrosse, as he was tabbed the No. 1 post-graduate recruit coming out of his season at the USMA Prep School. The central New York native started all 15 games and scored at least one point in 14 games in 2012.

Buckley is coming off a breakout season that saw him earn first team Academic All-America honors, along with first team All-Patriot League plaudits. Later named the Patriot League's overall Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Buckley emerged as one of the top close defensemen in the country and covered the opponent's top offensive threat in all 15 starts That impressive group included three of the top seven point-producers in the current NCAA rankings. The Massapequa, N.Y., native finished the season ranked eighth nationally averaging 2.0 caused turnovers per game. The MLL's Boston Cannons recently drafted Buckley as the 54th overall pick.

Army lifts the lid on the 2013 season earlier than ever before, opening up on the road at Massachusetts on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 12 p.m.

Tickets for the 2013 lacrosse season, which features six home games, can be purchase online at www.goARMYsports.com, by calling 1-877-TIX-ARMY or by visiting the Army Ticket Office located at Gate 3 of Michie Stadium.

Stay up-to-date on everything Army lacrosse by following the team's official Twitter page, @Army_Lacrosse. Fans are also encouraged to follow head coach Joe Alberici through @ArmyLaxCoach.

2013 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

Preseason All-League Team

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Peter Baum, Colgate
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Huffner, Bucknell