December 15, 2008

Baltimore, Md. - In the December 2008 edition of Inside Lacrosse, one can find the preseason honors for the 2009 campaign as presented by Face-Off Yearbook.  Face-Off Yearbook recognized three St. Mary's College of Maryland Seahawk players with preseason laurels.

As a team, St. Mary's was picked to finish third in the Capital Athletic Conference behind defending 14-time champion, Salisbury University, and CAC runner-up, Stevenson University.  The Seahawks finished third in the CAC regular standings in 2008 and fell in the CAC Quarterfinals to the University of Mary Washington, who was picked fourth in the preseason CAC poll this year.  St. Mary's ended last year's campaign with a 7-8 (5-2 CAC) record.

Wesley College was fifth on the preseason poll followed by York (Pa.) College in sixth, Marymount (Va.) University in seventh, and Hood College in last place.

For the third consecutive year, senior face-off specialist Marc DiPasquale (Joppa. Md./Boys' Latin) was named to the preseason Division III All-America list, earning a first team nod.  DiPasquale was named to the second team a year ago and was selected to the third team as a sophomore.  He also garnered a spot on this year's preseason All-CAC team.

DiPasquale wrapped up his junior campaign by finishing as the No. 1 face-off specialist in all of Division III with his division-leading .695 (226-of-325) face-off percentage.  For his efforts a year ago, the 5-8 midfielder earned first team All-CAC accolades.

The two-time defending national champions, Salisbury, and Stevenson both placed four on the preseason All-America list, while Wesley had a player earn honorable mention.

The 2008 CAC Rookie-of-the-Year, sophomore Dennis Rosson (Severna Park, Md./Severn), and senior AJ Armstrong (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) were both named to the preseason All-CAC team as well.

Rosson paced St. Mary's in 2008 with team-highs of 29 goals, 13 assists, and 42 points to earn All-CAC Second Team honors.  He led the squad with five man-up goals and a pair of game-winning scores as well.  The 6-1 attackman also finished with 20 ground balls and two caused turnovers.

An everyday starter for the Seahawks, Armstrong was named to the All-CAC Second Team a year ago.  The 5-11 defenseman was part of a defensive unit that boasted a 9.60 goals against average.  Armstrong had 18 ground balls and caused a third-best 13 turnovers, while dishing out three assists.

St. Mary's will kick off the 2009 campaign on the road as the Seahawks will square off against Franklin & Marshall College on neutral ground on February 25, 2009 at 3:00.  The game will be played at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, Md.