EDISON, NJ (Jan. 24, 2024) – Siena College has been voted as the top team according to the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while Manhattan College’s Kyle Gucwa and Mount St. Mary’s University’s Mitchell Dunham have been named Preseason Co-Players of the Year, as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.
Siena earned a league-high 92 points in the poll, collecting five first-place votes to lead the way. The Saints enter the season following a 9-7 2023 campaign in which the team advanced to the championship final for the first time since 2014. Siena is tied for second amongst MAAC members with three total MAAC Championships, winning the league crowns in 2009, 2011, and 2014.
2023 MAAC Champion, Marist College, was selected as a close second in the poll just one point behind Siena, receiving 91 points and four first-place votes. Manhattan and Mont St. Mary’s who both earned a share of the 2023 MAAC Regular Season title were picked third and fourth in the poll, earning 71 and 66 points, respectively. Quinnipiac University rounded out the top-five with 65 points and the final first-place vote.
Manhattan’s top offensive threat at the attack position, Gucwa and Mount St. Mary’s All-American defensiveman, Dunham were named Preseason Co-Players of the Year. One of the top scorers in the MAAC last season and over the course of his career, Gucwa averaged 1.67 assists per game to lead the league and tallied 25 assists which ranked second among conference players. He added 25 goals in 2023 for a total of 50 points, which ranked fifth in the MAAC, while averaging 3.33 points per game, which was sixth best on the MAAC leaderboard. A native of Pottstown, PA, Gucwa is a four-time All-MAAC selection, earning back-to-back first team nods in 2022 and 2023, while also making the second team and All-Championship team in 2021 during his sophomore campaign. Dunham, the 2023 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAAC choice, forced 32 caused turnovers and averaged of 2.00 caused turnovers per game last season, both of which led the MAAC. He also scooped up 75 ground balls and added six points by way of six assists offensively. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Dunham was named by USA Lacrosse as a Preseason All-American Honorable Mention ahead of the 2024 season.
The remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2024 Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Siena |
92 (5) |
| 2 |
Marist |
91 (4) |
| 3 |
Manhattan |
71 |
| 4 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
66 |
| 5 |
Quinnipiac |
65 (1) |
| 6 |
Sacred Heart |
59 |
| 7 |
LIU |
43 |
| 8 |
VMI |
29 |
| 9 |
Canisius |
20 |
| 10 |
Wagner |
14 |
| Preseason Co-Players of the Year |
| Kyle Gucwa, Manhattan |
| Mitchell Dunham, Mount St. Mary’s |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Sean Boll |
Attack |
Gr. |
LIU |
| Kyle Gucwa |
Attack |
Gr. |
Manhattan |
| John DeLucia |
Attack |
Gr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Steven Germain |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Jake Tellers |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Sal Miccio |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Jack Rogers |
Face-off Specialist |
So. |
VMI |
| Matthew Scully |
Short Stick Midfield |
Gr. |
Manhattan |
| Jack Erb |
Short Stick Midfield |
Sr. |
Siena |
| Ryan Downing |
Long Stick Midfield |
So. |
Quinnipiac |
| Mitchell Dunham |
Defense |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary’s |
| Brian Mack |
Defense |
Sr. |
Siena |
| Trevor Marsala |
Defense |
Sr. |
Siena |
| Adam Norris |
Goalkeeper |
So. |
VMI |
The 2024 MAAC Men's Lacrosse Championship will take place between April 27 and May 4, 2024. The six-team, single-elimination tournament will open on Saturday, April 27 with the opening round hosted by the higher seed of each matchup. The semifinals and championship final will be hosted by the highest MAAC full member school in the field and will be played on Thursday, May 2 and Saturday, May 4. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/mlax.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
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