Despite the fact that the Cardinals return their top eight scorers from last year, their starting goalie for the last two years and nearly its entire defensive unit, Fisher finished one vote ahead of RIT and is picked to finish fourth in the Empire 8 Preseason Poll. The Cardinals set a new program record for wins last year with 15 and advanced to the title game of the Empire 8 Championship.
Fisher is ranked 20th in the Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Poll and is one of five teams in the Empire 8 ranked in the top 25 in the USILA Preseason Poll.
Fisher will open the 2010 season on Wednesday in Greensboro, NC and will face York College (PA) at 4 p.m.
2010 Empire 8 Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Nazareth College (7 first-place votes) 63 points
2. Ithaca College (2) 56
3. Stevens Institute of Technology 48
4. St. John Fisher College 41
5. Rochester Institute of Technology 40
6. Hartwick College 29
7. Utica College 24
8. Alfred University 15
9. Elmira College 8