YAIAA boys lacrosse preseason rankings
Our YAIAA preseason rankings series wraps up with a look at the top boys' lacrosse teams entering the season.
1. Susquehannock: The league runner-up lost its goalkeeper Shane Silk, but added dynamic scorer Anthony DeVincent (55 goals, 21 assists) to an already talented front line that includes Dorian Faster and Jack Allred. The team's biggest test will still be against West York, but look for the Russ LeBlanc and the Warriors to make a postseason run.
2. Red Lion: There might not be a better attacking duo in the league than Red Lion's Sam Emig and Jac Gemmill, who posted 86 points apiece last season. Both should also surpass the 200 career point plateau this season. Veteran Alex Keough anchors the defense, and the coaching staff is excited about freshman Elijah Workinger in the midfield. The Lions started 13-2 last year before dropping their last three games. They totaled at least 15 goals in nine games.
3. West York: It was hard to drop the defending champs to the third spot, especially since they've gone 48-12 in the last four seasons. But last year's senior class is gone, and the Bulldogs will have to replace 2015 Player of the Year Hunter Betz, goalkeeper Cole Rinehart and first-team defender Tanner Hale. West York will be a young team, so players like Ryan McCauley, Trey Walton, Cody Richter and Nick Cintron will be expected to step up.
4. Dallastown: The Wildcats went 12-5 last year but graduated 15 seniors, including Brian Prats and Frankie Marquet. This year they have a new head coach, Joe Slessinger, who will have experienced seniors Cade Gold and Jack Marks leading the team. Marks is arguably the league's top returning goalkeeper, and Gold is fully healthy after sustaining a leg injury late in the football season. Dallastown lost five games by a combined six goals last season and gave up double-digit goals in just two games.
5. York Suburban: This was the toughest spot in the rankings to nail down, but we gave the Trojans the slight nod over Central York and potential sleeper picks Spring Grove and York Catholic. York Suburban will have arguably the best player on the field at all times in Collin Mailman (Drexel commit). And his supporting cast is better than people expect. Mike Sipes, Dustin Knaub and Justice Gettle are all highly talented. The key for the Trojans will be on the back end, where they'll replace an entire defense and start a sophomore goalkeeper. But they'll have time to adjust because the toughest part of York Suburban's schedule isn't until the final four games.
Keep an eye on: Central York, York Catholic, Spring Grove
Five games to watch
Dallastown at Red Lion, March 30, 4:15 p.m.
York Catholic at Spring Grove, March 31, 7 p.m.
Susquehannock at West York, April 14, 4:15 p.m.
West York at Central York, April 21, 7 p.m.
Red Lion at Susquehannock, April 28, 6 p.m.