RICHMOND, Va. – Prepared to defend its most recent Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) crown, the Towson men's lacrosse team was voted by the league's head coaches as the favorites to repeat as conference champions. The CAA announced its Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-CAA Team Monday afternoon.
 
Towson, which went 12-6 en route to the league's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament, collected 25 points, including five of the six first place votes. Coaches could not vote for their own program. Hofstra was predicted to finish second with 19 points and one first place vote. Fairfield was close behind with 18 points, followed by Drexel (14), UMass (8) and Delaware (6).
 
In addition to the Predicted Order of Finish, the conference office announced its Preseason All-CAA Team. Two Tigers were voted by the conference coaches, including reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Year Tyler White. Joining White on the Preseason All-CAA Team was junior attackman Joe Seider, last year's CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Hofstra's Sam Llinares was tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year.
 
Three Towson players earned Honorable Mention on the Preseason All-CAA Team. Juniors Ryan Drenner (attack) and Tyler Mayes (LSM) joined senior close defenseman Mike Lowe with Honorable Mention plaudits.
 
A third-team All-America selection in 2015, White set the single-season program record for goals against average (7.57) last season. During his Tiger career, White has logged nearly 2,000 minutes while allowing just 276 goals, including a career-best 133 last year. His 8.52 career goals against average ranks second all-time at Towson. Hailing from Elmira Heights, New York, White holds a career record of 20-13 and led the Tigers to their second CAA title during his time at the University.
 
Seider was named first team All-CAA last season and was tabbed CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. The current junior led Towson with 34 goals and 41 points. The Sparks, Maryland native ripped off a single-season program record 137 shots last season, pacing the Tigers to their CAA-record fifth tournament title.
 
Towson hosts a preseason scrimmage on Jan. 30 as the Tigers welcome Hobart and Bucknell to Johnny Unitas ® Stadium. Towson faces Hobart at 11 a.m. and Bucknell at 2 p.m. while the Statesmen and Bison square off at 12:30 p.m.
 
Agate:
2016 Preseason All-CAA Men's Lacrosse Team
Attack: Joe Seider (Towson), Sam Llinares (Hofstra), Cole Shafer (Drexel)
Midfield: TJ Neubauer (Fairfield), Charlie Schnider (Fairfield), Gianni Bianchin (UMass)
LSM: Conor Barr (Fairfield)
Faceoff Specialist: Kris Clarke (Hofstra)
Defense: Kyle Karaska (UMass), Finn Sullivan (Hofstra), Miles Thomas (Drexel)
Goalie: Tyler White (Towson)
 
Honorable Mention: Ryan Drenner (Towson/Attack), Mike Lowe (Towson/Defense), Tyler Mayes (Towson/LSM), Jackson Finigan (Delaware/Midfield), Connor Lalley (Delaware/Defense), Will Fox (Fairfield/Faceoff).
 
CAA Men's Lacrosse Preseason Player of the Year: Sam Llinares (Hofstra)
 
2016 CAA Men's Lacrosse Predicted Order of Finish
Place) School – Points (First Place Votes)

1. Towson – 25 (5)
2. Hofstra – 19 (1)
3. Fairfield – 18
4. Drexel – 14
5. UMass – 8
6. Delaware - 6

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