INDIANAPOLIS - The precipice for potential greatness in the initial offering of men’s lacrosse as a sport in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference is an exciting prospect to consider.
 
The question remains: what is that eventual peak? Only time will tell as the preseason wears on and the regular season gets underway, but the final product for several teams could be a special one around the league.
 
Three teams in the preseason national polls, seven Preseason All-Americans and national tournament experience, certainly helps drive those expectations that the sport will instantly be a splash at a high level.
 
Seven institutions, including four associate members, will battle it out for the inaugural G-MAC Championship this spring. Some programs are young while some are more established as everyone works to build a contender.
 
Four at-large teams from the North and South regions made the NCAA Tournament bracket last year with Le Moyne eventually hoisting the national championship hardware.
 
Arguably, G-MAC men’s lacrosse has as good of chance as any to claim that label of the first national champion from the league.
 
To be the best, you have to beat the best, and the non-conference schedules speak volumes about what it will take to get to the top. These teams are very familiar with each other and their styles of play; the road through the conference schedule should be a tough one in order to host the G-MAC tourney.
 
Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Lake Erie, are all ranked by either Inside Lacrosse’s Face-Off Yearbook Rankings or the USILA/Nike Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
The Lakers of Mercyhurst were the narrow favorite in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll by Under Armour and start ranked at No. 7/6 in the two polls. Mercyhurst (15-3 in 2016) is the champ of the former ECAC and earned a national tournament postseason bid before being dealt a tough setback to close the book on 2016 against Tampa, 10-9. The defense is anchored by junior All-American Greg Weyl, whose value extends far beyond points in the box score. The other Preseason All-American, senior attack James Crowe, led the Lakers last year in points (55), goals (36) and assists (19). Senior goalkeeper Matt Wells also earned Preseason All-American billing and received all 15 winning decisions while saving over 51 percent of his shots faced. Mercyhurst won eight in a row in the middle of last year to set the stage for its postseason run.  
 
Highlighting Seton Hill (11-4 in 2016) is senior midfielder Zack Rusch, sophomore midfielder Brett Craig and senior defender Matt Mahood. The Griffins are viewed as a league title contender with three first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll and finished 2016 with an impressive 7-1 while competing as the visitor. Rusch was second on the team in goals scored last year with 25.
 
Lake Erie and Walsh are a pair of schools slated to join the G-MAC as full members for the 2017-18 academic year. Junior Lucas Shafer paced the Storm with 32 goals in 2016 . The strength for Walsh is the number of impact returners. Seniors Bryan Crim and Alex Hudgens provide plenty of offensive firepower for the Cavaliers as the top returning goal scorers.
 
Alderson Broaddus (5-10 in 2016), Davis & Elkins (0-9 in 2016) and Ohio Valley (3-9 in 2016), have all launched their men’s lacrosse programs within the last decade. Each institution is taking that next step forward in their program’s development as the sport continues to emerge.
 
AB’s senior attack Keir Yonge was the league leader in the ECAC in points with 59 and logged 35 goals; the Battlers experienced their best season since the men’s lacrosse program started in 2013. The Senators are looking for their first win as a program after embarking on a tough winless maiden campaign in 2016; Zach Cotoni is the leading returner in points scored for D&E with 18. OVU recorded three wins last year while sophomores Keith Parkman and Hammond Jones each scored 12 goals. AB and D&E also had their women’s lacrosse programs compete in the G-MAC last year for the sport’s inaugural season.
 
The regular season for men’s lacrosse in the G-MAC officially begins on Saturday, Feb. 18.