Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team, under the direction of third-year head coach Andrew McMinn, was picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in the upcoming 2014 season according to a poll of the league's head coaches.

Two-time defending champion Bryant was tabbed as the preseason favorite, earning all possible six first-place votes. Robert Morris shared the second spot with NEC newcomer Hobart, who earned the lone other first-place vote.

The Colonials are coming off their fifth-straight winning season as they finished the 2013 campaign with an overall record of 8-7. RMU advanced its first NEC Championship Game last season by earning the program's first postseason win in a 15-14 thriller over Quinnipiac.

Despite losing 12 seniors – including a program record four to the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft – RMU returns five players who earned all-conference recognition in 2013.

Senior Sean Meagher (Chesterfield, Mo. / St. Louis University) is the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year after breaking the school record in caused turnovers (38) and tallying a career-high in ground balls (45). Meagher was second in the country in caused turnovers per game (2.53) and helped the Colonials lead the country in that category (11.27 per game).

Sophomore Eric Rankel (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West) became the first rookie in program history to earn first or second team all-league honors as he was an All-NEC First Team selection as a midfielder. Rankel led the team in goals (28) and points (40) and was one of six players to cause double-digit turnovers (11). The midfielder tallied a career-high six goals in the aforementioned NEC semifinal victory over Quinnipiac, including three in the fourth quarter of that contest.

Junior Luc Magnan (Pine Falls, Manitoba / The Hill Academy) was honored with a spot on the All-NEC Second Team after finishing third on the team in caused turnovers (23) and ninth in ground balls (29).

Sophomores Nicholas Beaudoin (Welland, Ontario / Notre Dame College) and Luke Laszkiewicz (Oshawa, Ontario / Westminster Prep) were named to the All-NEC Rookie Team last season. Beaudoin compiled a team-high 46 ground balls in just 11 contests, while Laszkiewicz was one of five 20-goal scorers for the Colonials in 2013.

Rounding out the NEC poll are conference newcomer Saint Joseph's, Sacred Heart, Mount St. Mary's, and Wagner.

Robert Morris opens up its 2014 campaign on the road this Saturday with Bellarmine – the third-straight season in which the Colonials have kicked off the year against the Knights. The contest is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. from Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

2014 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Bryant (6)
2-t. Hobart (1)
2-t. Robert Morris
4. Saint Joseph's
5. Sacred Heart
6. Mount St. Mary's
7. Wagner