Men's Lacrosse: PAC releases 2024 men's lacrosse preseason coaches' poll

TRAFFORD, Pa. – The Bethany College men's lacrosse team was picked to finished eighth in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday along with the league's Players to Watch list.

The preseason coaches' poll was voted on by the PAC's nine head coaches. 

Grove City secured the top spot in the coaches' poll receiving eight first place votes followed by Saint Vincent and Chatham.

Westminster is picked fourth followed by Allegheny, Franciscan and W&J. Thiel was picked to finish ninth.

Ninth-year head coach Ryan Hilyer and the Bison returns nine including PAC Players to Watch, Jackson Barnett, Tyler Britton, Christian Funari and Christian Nestor. Joining the returners is one of twelve newcomers, Cameron Russo, a transfer midfielder from Alderson-Broaddus.

Barnett and Nestor look to have larger roles for the Bison this season. Barnett scored one goal and had four assists in 15 games played last season. Nestor replaces Andrew Smith in the net. The Wheeling University transfer appeared in eight games with 21 saves and one win last season for the Bison.

Britton returns as one of the top offensive players in Bison history. He currently ranks third all-time with 105 career points, 77 career goals, and fourth all-time with 28 career assists. Holds the single-game record with nine goals. Last season, he scored a goal in all but three games while totaling 105 points with 77 goals and 28 assists for the Green and White.

As Bethany's top defender, Christian Funari holds the record for caused turnovers in a career with 97 and single-season caused turnover record with 39 which he set in the 2023 season.

The Bison open their 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 9 when they host Holy Family for a 7 pm face-off.