GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Ohio River Lacrosse Conference (ORLC) recently released its 2017 men's and women's lacrosse preseason coaches' polls.
The Thiel College men's lacrosse team finished third in the poll with 45 points. Transylvania was selected as the favorite to win the conference while Washington & Jefferson finished second in voting.
Three Tomcats were named to the ORLC Players to Watch list, including
Murphy Wood (Austin, Texas/LC Anderson),
Edward Kargbo (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams), and
Brennen O'Shea (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley).
Wood and O'Shea were named to the All-ORLC First Team last season. O'Shea finished sixth in the conference with 51 points last season on 29 goals and 22 assists. Wood notched 36 ground balls and caused 20 turnovers.
Last season, Kargbo was named to the All-ORLC Second Team. He finished the season with 44 points (30G, 14A), which was good enough for eighth in the conference.
The Tomcats went 10-4 overall and 5-2 in the ORLC in the 2016 season and qualified for the ORLC Championship Tournament.
Thiel's men's team will open its season at home on Saturday, Feb. 18 against the University of Mount Union. The non-conference game is slated to begin at 11 a.m.
The Thiel College women's lacrosse team finished ninth in the poll with 21 points. Washington & Jefferson was selected as the favorite to win the conference with six first-place votes and 93 total points. Saint Vincent finished second with 89 points while Transylvania finished third with 84 points.
Four Tomcats were named to the ORLC Players to Watch list, including
Paige Onomastico (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley ),
Jennifer Rickens (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley),
Paige Scherer (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley), and
Megan Williams (Lusby, Md./Patuxent).
Rickens and Williams were named to the All-ORLC Second Team last season. Rickens led the Tomcats with 27 points and 23 goals in 2016 while also recording 20 draw controls, 15 ground balls and nine caused turnovers.
Williams scored five goals last season. She also tallied 27 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers and seven draw controls.
Thiel's women's team will open its season at home on Wednesday, March 1 against Allegheny College. The non-conference game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
