1. Le Moyne- After having lost only two games last season, the 2014 roster hopes to match what 2013 brought to the table. As defending champions, fans will expect nothing less.
2. Mercyhurst- The top two spots here are more like a tie for number one. Mercyhurst lost in the championship by only 1 goal, so to say they are high competitors would be an understatement. Le Moyne gets the top spot because they are champions, but don’t sleep on the Lakers.
3. Adelphi- Adelphi nearly made it to the Championship game, but a few slip ups on the defensive front sent them packing in the semi-finals. This year’s roster features five new defensive freshmen who are sure to tighten things up in front of the net.
4. Limestone- The Saints were one game away from appearing in the finals last year, so this is a team that knows its ability. They are bringing back almost the same team as last year, so I expect a similar run by the 2014 roster.
5. LIU Post- The Pioneers lost against Le Moyne, Mercyhurst, and Adelphi last season, leaving fans to question their competitive spirit. Two new freshmen goal keepers and a slew of new defensive and offensive team members should strengthen their competitive drive.
6. Merrimack- Merrimack was one of few teams that was able to defeat Le Moyne during the regular season, but ultimately were outplayed during the post-season. They lost a handful of talented seniors for this season, but Corey Lunney will be back again to spark this team’s offense.
7. NYIT- After losing just two games last season, NYIT was sent home early in the playoffs by Adelphi. The key for this team is maintaining their offensive strengths throughout the entire season.
8. Lake Erie- The Storm have only five freshmen on this year’s team, almost all over six feet. Most of them are also top defensive players, so this team may become one of the strongest defensive units in the division.
9. Saint Michael’s- Last year’s team struggled both at the beginning and end of the season, while remaining strong mid-season. If this team wants to make a deep playoff run, they’ll have to remain consistent throughout the entire season.
10. Molloy- The Lions lost 4 of their last 5 games in the 2013 season after starting 9-0. Like Saint Michael’s, Molloy has a consistency issue they must resolve for the 2014 season.
