Feb. 14, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's lacrosse team has earned the top spot in the 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on Wednesday, February 14. The Friars recorded 78 points in the poll. In addition to the release of the preseason rankings, the Preseason All-MAAC Team was announced. Three Providence players were named to the 11-man squad, marking the most of any team. Among the Friars selected to the team are defender James Courter (Lincoln Park, N.J.), midfielder Michael Farley (Westfield, N.J.) and goaltender Peter Littell (Upper Montclair, N.J.).

Mount St. Mary's earned second place in the preseason coaches' poll with 65 points. Canisius (59 points) and Siena (51 points) round out the top four spots. St. Joseph's is fifth (50 points), followed by Manhattan (37 points), Marist (34 points), VMI (20 points) and Wagner (11 points).

In 2006, the Friars claimed a share of the MAAC Regular-Season title and won the MAAC Tournament Championship, earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It marked the Friars third regular-season title, second tournament championship and second appearance at the NCAAs in program history. Providence finished the season with a 10-7 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the MAAC.

Courter, a three-year team captain for the Friars, has earned All-MAAC honors in each of the last two seasons. In 2005, Courter was selected to the All-MAAC Second Team and in 2006 he took home First-Team honors. Last season he finished the year with 25 groundballs and he tallied his first collegiate point with an assist vs. Manhattan on April 19.

Farley earned All-MAAC First-Team recognition in 2006 and also became the first player in program history to earn USILA Division I All-America honors as an honorable mention selection. Farley led the team in scoring with 43 points on 33 goals and 10 assists. He led the team with three game-winning goals, and recorded at least one goal in each of the 16 games he played. In all, Farley finished the season with 10 multiple-goal games, including a career-high five goals vs. North Carolina.

Littell was an All-MAAC Second-Team selection in 2006. He played 16 games for the Friars between the pipes and posted a 10-6 overall record and a 6-2 mark in MAAC action. He registered 185 saves and allowed just 127 goals in 970:31 minutes of action for a 0.593 save percentage and a 7.85 goals against average.

The Friars open the 2007 schedule with a non-conference game against Fairfield on February 24. The game will be played in Fairfield, Conn. and is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Providence begins MAAC regular-season play against Canisius on March 17 in Providence, R.I. at 1:00 p.m.

- FRIARS -