Central Islip, N.Y. – The defending
National Champion, Mercyhust Lakers, have been tabbed as the 2012
preseason favorite in East Coast Conference men’s lacrosse.
Senior Eddie Plompen (West Islip, N.Y.) of C.W. Post has been named
the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while junior goalkeeper
T.J. DiCarlo (Farmingdale, N.Y.) of Mercy has been named the
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Mercyhurst accumulated 118 total points with eight first place
votes to take the top spot in the preseason poll. The Lakers
are coming off a season in which they finished 14-2 (8-2 in ECC
play). Their final win, a 9-8 victory over Adelphi, gave the team
the first National Championship in program history. Four starters
and 25 players return for Mercyhurst in their quest to capture the
ECC title and defend their national title.
C.W. Post, last season’s ECC champion and one of four teams
to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, had two place
votes to come in second in the preseason poll. Dowling rounds out
the top three with the final first place vote and 97 points.
The 2012 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year has been awarded to
senior Eddie Plompen from C.W. Post. Plompen is coming off a
standout year in which he led the Pioneers in goals (54) and
assists (18). He finished in the top six nationally in both points
per game and assists per game as well. His efforts on the season
earned him spots on the USILA All-America and ECC All-Conference
First Teams. Prior to the 2012 season, Plompen has also been named
a USILA Preseason Second Team All-American.
Mercy goalkeeper T.J. DiCarlo has been named the Preseason
Defensive Player of the Year. DiCarlo was last season’s ECC
Goalkeeper of the Year after posting an 11-3 record between the
pipes to go along with a conference leading .636 save percentage.
He also finished second in the conference in saves per game at
12.86. DiCarlo’s play was recognized on a national level in
addition to the ECC, as he earned a spot on the USILA All-America
First Team and was named the USILA Goalkeeper of the Year.
2012 East Coast
Conference Preseason Poll
| School | Points |
| 1. Mercyhurst (8) | 118 |
| 2. C.W. Post (2) | 110 |
| 3. Dowling (1) | 97 |
| 4. NYIT | 90 |
| 5. Mercy | 77 |
| 6. Seton Hill | 56 |
| 7. Chestnut Hill | 48 |
| 8. Lake Erie | 47 |
| 9. Molloy | 45 |
| 10. Wheeling Jesuit | 22 |
| 11. Dominican | 16 |
(first place votes)
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Eddie
Plompen, Sr., ATT., C.W. Post
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: T.J.
DiCarlo, Jr., GK, Mercy
