PERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 11, 2016) - The LIU Post men's lacrosse team has been listed third in the 2016 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/Nike Preseason Top-20 Poll, announced Monday afternoon.

It is the second-consecutive year that the Pioneers have debuted at No. 3 in the USILA preseason rankings. The green and gold amassed 328 points, trailing only reigning national finalists Limestone College (380) and Le Moyne College (354).

LIU Post, which topped the five East Coast Conference programs in the poll, has six regular-season opponents ranked inside the USILA's Top-20. The Pioneers will open the 2016 campaign with back-to-back showdowns against No. 4 Merrimack College and No. 5 Adelphi University, before facing four nationally-ranked in-league foes (New York Institute of Technology, Mercy College, Dowling College, Molloy College).

The Pioneers are coming off an NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal appearance last year, boasting a 14-3 record and a third-straight East Coast Conference title. They were slotted at No. 6 in the final USILA ballot of 2015.

Head Coach John Jez and his LIU Post squad kick off the 2016 season on Saturday, Feb. 20 in North Andover, Mass. at No. 4 Merrimack at noon.

2016 USILA Division II Preseason Top-20 Poll
1. Limestone (19 First-Place Votes) - 380 Points
2. Le Moyne - 354 Points
3. LIU Post - 328 Points
4. Merrimack - 317 Points
5. Adelphi - 307 Points
6. NYIT - 266 Points
7. Lake Erie - 259 Points
8. Seton Hill - 253 Points
9. Lindenwood - 236 Points
10. Tampa - 229 Points
11. Mercyhurst - 189 Points
12. Mount Olive - 163 Points
13. Florida Tech - 142 Points
14. Mercy - 84 Points
T-15. Pfeiffer - 71 Points
T-15. Colorado Mesa - 71 Points
T-17. Pace - 54 Points
T-17. Dowling - 54 Points
19. Molloy - 37 Points
20. Queens (N.C.) - 34 Points