Men's Lacrosse | 2/17/2015 2:35:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY -- The three-time defending Liberty League champion RIT men's lacrosse team is the 2015 Liberty League preseason favorite in a vote of the league's head coaches released on Tuesday. RIT was picked first with 49 points and received seven first-place votes. Union College is second with 43 points and one first place vote, while Rensselaer was picked third with 35 points.

The Tigers, who won the Liberty League Tournament in 2012, 2013 and 2014, finished the season with a 20-1 record and made the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time overall and the fifth straight season, advancing to the national semifinals, losing to eventual champion Tufts University.

RIT, who has won five straight conference championships including two straight Empire 8 titles in 2010 and 2011, kicks off the season February 21 versus 2013 NCAA Div. III Champion and preseason #4 Stevenson University at 12 p.m. on RIT's Turf Field.

RIT will play two games at the Carrier Dome in 2015. The first will be versus No. 6 SUNY Cortland on Wednesday, March 11, while the second will take on place on Saturday, March 14 versus No. 7 Cabrini. The Tigers begin Liberty League play on March 21 at Clarkson University.

2015 Liberty League Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. RIT, 49 (7)
2. Union, 43 (1)
3. RPI, 35
4. St. Lawrence, 32
5. Clarkson, 25
6. Skidmore, 18
7. Vassar, 15
8. Bard, 7