University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Lax #18 In Preseason Poll, Godoi All-American
December 15, 2009 | Men's Lacrosse
Dec. 15, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Coming off an ECAC Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, the UMass men's lacrosse team is ranked No. 18 in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason poll released in Face-Off Magazine. The Minutemen will be led by senior Diogo Godoi, who was named a Preseason Second-Team All-American.
The Minutemen, who move from the ECAC to the CAA this season, are given this skinny by IL: Graduation hit the Minutemen hard, with four of the top six scorers gone, along with four-year starting goalie Doc Schneider. A young core features All-New England selections Diogo Godoi and Bobby Hayes along with sophomore attacker Art Kell.
UMass faces nine teams in the preseason Top 25: #10 Hofstra, #11 Harvard, #13 Georgetown, #15 Brown, #20 Albany, #21 Ohio State, #23 Penn State, #24 Drexel and #25 Villanova.
UMass opens the 2010 season against Sacred Heart on Friday, Feb. 12 in Fairfield, Conn., at 3 p.m.
Godoi was an Honorable Mention USILA All-American last season. He will return for his senior year with numerous honors as has been also named an All-ECAC First Team defender and an All-New England pick. He anchored a UMass defense that finished the season 11th nationally in fewest goals allowed (7.93). He shut down the opponent's top scorer on numerous occasions, including in the NCAA Tournament contest at Princeton when he held the Tigers' top scorer Jack McBride (a Second-Team All-American) pointless. He started all 15 games while recording 28 groundballs and 21 caused turnovers, tied for most on team. He was twice named to Inside Lacrosse Team of the Week on March 23 and April 6.
