815 Crocker Rd. Building B, Suite 5 Westlake, Ohio 44145 Phone (440) 871-8100 Fax (440) 871-4221 [email protected] www.northcoast.org ALLEGHENY COLLEGE ★ DENISON UNIVERSITY ★ DEPAUW UNIVERSITY ★ HIRAM COLLEGE ★ KENYON COLLEGE ★ OBERLIN COLLEGE ★OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY ★ WABASH COLLEGE ★ WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY ★ COLLEGE OF WOOSTER NCAC Men's Lacrosse Special For Immediate Release DENISON VOTED PRESEASON FAVORITE FOR Feb. 23, 2011 28TH NORTH COAST MEN'S LACROSSE SEASON CLEVELAND -- North Coast Athletic Conference coaches tabbed Denison as the preseason favorite in balloting in the annual preseason coaches' poll. The Big Red, who posted a 4-1 league mark and an 11-4 overall record last spring including a share of the NCAC championship, earned five of six available first-place votes from league coaches to total 35 points. Ohio Wesleyan, which finished 2011 in a three-way tie for first-place, is predicted to finish second this season after collecting the final first-place vote and 31 points. Wittenberg, the third member of the first-place trio, and Kenyon tied for third after totaling 18 points each. Wooster (16) and Oberlin (8) round out the preseason poll at fifth and sixth, respectively. The Denison offense will rely on a bevy of youth after losing its top four goal-scorers to graduation with 19 newcomers and 27 returning letterwinners. On defense, senior preseason All-American Nick Farrell (New York, NY/Millbrook School) returns after scooping up 29 ground balls while starting all 15 games last season. Senior Cory Couture (Coronado, CA/ Coronado) returns after a 2011 campaign that featured 14 goals, 11 assists and 16 ground balls, earning him honorable mention All-NCAC honors. Junior goalie Nick Petracca (Manhasset, NY/Loomis Chaffee) is coming off of a season where he earned the starting spot in goal early on in the campaign, and was named second-team All-NCAC after posting 92 saves and finishing with a 5.95 goals against average, which ranked in the top-five nationally. Denison head coachMike Caravanna is in his fourth season of his second tenure at the helm of the Big Red program. In 18 total years as head coach of the Big Red, he holds a career record of 180-76 to go along with seven NCAC titles and 11 trips to the national tournament. In 1999 and 2001 Denison advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament. Ohio Wesleyan leads all North Coast teams with 18 championships in 27 years. Denison follows with 12, Wittenberg has two while Wooster and Kenyon each can boast one championship. The NCAC has had tri-champs three times, first in 2000 when the Big Red, Bishops and Lords shared the title, then in 2004, when Denison, OWU and Wooster each had a piece of the crown, only to have it happen again last year when Denison, Wittenberg and Ohio Wesleyan shared the top spot. The conference also saw Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg share the conference crown two seasons ago. Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference is made up of nine academically selective colleges and universities - Allegheny College, Denison University, Hiram College, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Wabash College, Wittenberg University and the College of Wooster, along with affiliate member, Earlham College (field hockey). DePauw University will join the North Coast beginning with the 2011-12 academic year. The NCAC sponsors 23 championship sports, 11 for men and 12 for women. -NCAC- 2012 NCAC Preseason Men's Lacrosse Poll First-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points: 1. Denison (5) ...................................................... 35 2. Ohio Wesleyan (1) ........................................... 31 3. Kenyon ............................................................ 18 Wittenberg ........................................................18 5. Wooster .......................................................... 16 6. Oberlin .............................................................. 8.