Despite being ranked No. 18 in the Preseason Nike/US Lacrosse national media poll, the Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse team is predicted to finish in sixth place in the Sunshine State Conference, as voted on by the eight head coaches in the league.
The Mocs are coming off a 2019 campaign that resulted in a final record of 9-7, including a 4-3 mark inside the SSC.
The University of Tampa sits atop the poll for the seventh consecutive season with 48 first points, including six first place votes. The Spartans are expected to recapture the league’s regular-season championship. Saint Leo University finishes second in the poll with 40 points, while Lynn University edged Rollins College for third place, 36 to 34 points, respectively. However, the Tars received two first-place votes from conference coaches. Rounding out the preseason ranking are Florida Tech (23 points), Florida Southern College (22 points), Palm Beach Atlantic University (13 points), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (8 points).
“This is such a great conference,” said Florida Southern head coach Marty Ward, who is now in his tenth season. “Four different schools are ranked nationally, so we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
Florida Southern will face several opponents this season who are also nationally ranked in the preseason, including No. 5 Belmont Abbey (Feb. 15), No. 6 Tampa (Feb. 22, April 4), No. 8 Mount Olive (March 8), No. 16 Saint Leo (April 8), and No. 17 Rollins (April 18).
Florida Southern will open the season on February 7, hosting Molloy.
Below are the full results of the 2020 SSC preseason coaches poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team (first-place votes in parentheses).
| 2020 SSC MEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON COACHES POLL | ||
| Rank | School (FPV) | Total Points |
| 1 | Tampa (6) | 48 |
| 2 | Saint Leo | 40 |
| 3 | Lynn | 36 |
| 4 | Rollins (2) | 34 |
| 5 | Florida Tech | 23 |
| 6 | Florida Southern | 22 |
| 7 | Palm Beach Atlantic | 13 |
| 8 | Embry-Riddle | 8 |