SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Western New England College has been ranked seventh in the recently released Inside Lacrosse Magazine's Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Division III rankings. WNEC also was the top choice to repeat as champions of The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC).
The Golden Bears, who finished last year at 17-3 and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championship, are scheduled to play six teams ranked in the Top 20 this spring.
In addition, three Western New England College players were named to the Preseason Division III All-America Team. They are sophomore goalie Brewster Knowlton (Somers, CT) (2nd Team), junior defenseman Billy Kelsey (Yorktown Heights, NY) (3rd Team), and senior attackman Tim Santye (Skillman, NJ) (Honorable Mention).
Knowlton comes off a stellar freshman campaign in which he was recognized as the TCCC Rookie-of-the-Year, along with honorable mention All-Conference honors. He finished first nationally in goals-against average (6.04) and second in save percentage (.656).
Kelsey helped anchor the Golden Bears' defensive unit that finished third in scoring defense (6.25)
He was a second team All-Conference selection, and finished with 54 ground balls, while often covering the opposing team’s top attackman.
Santye, a First Team All-Conference selection last year, is expected to lead a young but experienced offense this season. He compiled a team high 55 points (43 goals, 12 assists) a year ago.
Knowlton, Kelsey, and Santye were joined on the preseason TCCC team by four teammates, senior face-off specialist Bill Grieder (South Windsor, CT), senior defenseman Nick Zaleski (Somers, CT), junior attackman Joe Keefe (Branford, CT), and sophomore midfielder Nick Jez (Somers, CT).
Western New England College opens its season on Saturday, Feb. 27 at defending national champion SUNY Cortland (N.Y.) followed by an away contest against Stevenson University (Md.) on Sunday, March 7. Cortland and Stevenson are ranked one-two in the Preseason poll.
WNEC dropped a 6-5 decision at Cortland in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championship last May.