PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team is ranked No. 6 by Lacrosse Magazine in its 2004 preseason poll, the organization has announced.

The Scarlet Knights are one of three ECAC teams in the Top 10, joining Georgetown (No. 8) and Massachusetts (No. 10). Johns Hopkins, the 2003 national runner-up, is ranked No. 1, followed by defending national champion Virginia. Syracuse and Princeton, two of RU’s opponents in 2004, are ranked No. 4 and 5, respectively.

Rutgers returns six starters from last season, including leading-scorer Delby Powless (Six Nations, Ontario, Canada), who had 32 goals and four assists last year for First Team All-ECAC honors. Sophomore goalkeeper Greg Havalchak (Corning, NY) also returns after earning ECAC Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year honors.

Guided by National Coach of the Year Jim Stagnitta, Rutgers fashioned the most dramatic turnaround in Division I, improving from 2-12 in 2002 to 10-5 last season and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Rutgers opens its 2004 season on Saturday, Feb. 28, when the Scarlet Knights travel to Baltimore, MD, to face Dartmouth.

2004 Lacrosse Magazine Preseason College Rankings

1. Johns Hopkins
2. Virginia
3. Maryland
4. Syracuse
5. Princeton
6. RUTGERS
7. North Carolina
8. Georgetown
9. Cornell
10. Massachusetts
11. Notre Dame
12. Duke
13. Towson
14. Navy
15. Hofstra
16. UMBC
17. Penn State
18. Dartmouth
19. Loyola
20. Ohio State