The Loyola men's lacrosse team was picked to finish second by the league coaches for the upcoming 2009 ECAC season, it was announced on Tuesday by the conference office.

The Greyhounds, the defending ECAC lacrosse league champions, garnered 43 points in the poll and three first place votes. For the tenth consecutive season, Georgetown was picked as the favorites to capture the league title. The Hoyas tallied 47 possible points, including five first place votes.

Penn State and Rutgers were tied for third in the poll with 33 points, and the University of Massachusetts received 29 points to finish fifth. Fairfield was tabbed for sixth place, while Hobart and St. John's rounded out the bottom.

Last season, the Greyhounds went 6-1 in conference play and earned the program's first ECAC Championship since joining the league in 2005. With the automatic bid, Loyola made its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2000-01 seasons.

Among others, the Greyhounds return the 2008 ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, senior attackman Shane Koppens, as well as the ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year, goalie Jake Hagelin. Loyola landed six players on the All-ECAC team last season, with five of them returning to the team this season.

Loyola opens up its schedule on February 14th vs. Notre Dame in Atlanta, Ga.

2008-12-12