West Babylon, N.Y. – After a historic 2022 season, the Mercy men’s lacrosse team begins the 2023 season as the unanimous favorite in the East Coast Conference Preseason Poll released on Friday. Mercy standouts Brady Kearnan (Courtice, Ontario) and Jack Kipnes (Wantagh, N.Y.) were also selected as the conference’s Preseason Players of the Year.
The Mavericks claim the top spot in the poll on the heels of the best season in program history. The 2022 squad finished with a 16-2 record, earned a third straight conference title, and became the first ECC team to advance to the National Championship game since 2014. With eight starters and eight and nine All-Conference honorees returning, expectations are high for Mercy. In addition to their spot atop the ECC preseason poll, the Mavericks start the year at No. 2 in both the United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) and the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Division II polls.
Among the key returnees for Mercy are Kearnan and Kipnes. Kearnan takes home the ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor after tallying 83 points on 40 goals and 43 assists a season ago. His point and assist totals led the ECC, while his goal total ranked third. His outstanding season earned him numerous accolades including the ECC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-America laurels from both the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine.
Kipnes, who was named the ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, helped anchor one of the top defenses in all of Division II. The defender ranked in the top 15 in the conference with 45 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers. For his effort, Kipnes was selected to the ECC All-Conference First Team and the USILA All-America Third Team.
Frostburg State was the poll’s runner-up. Last season, the Bobcats made their first-ever appearance in the ECC Championship and advanced to the final before falling to Mercy.
Up next in the poll are Roberts Wesleyan and Molloy in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots as expected conference tournament participants. Both teams
St. Thomas Aquinas, District of Columbia, and D’Youville round out the poll in spots No. 5 through No. 7.
2023 ECC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
| School | Pts. | Last Year's Record |
| 1. Mercy (7) | 49 | 16-2 (6-0 ECC) |
| 2. Frostburg St. | 39 | 11-8 (4-2 ECC) |
| 3. Roberts Wesleyan | 33 | 10-5 (4-2 ECC) |
| 4. Molloy | 32 | 7-10 (4-2 ECC) |
| 5. St. Thomas Aquinas | 22 | 2-12 (1-5 ECC) |
| 6. Dist. Columbia | 12 | 3-7 (2-4 ECC) |
| 7. D'Youville | 9 | 0-11 (0-6 ECC) |
( ) - first place votes
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Brady Kearnan, Sr., A, Mercy
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Kipnes, Gr., D, Mercy
