Dec. 28, 2007

The Patriot League has reached an agreement with US Lacrosse, the national governing body of lacrosse, for the organization to promote the conference's 2008 men's and women's lacrosse championships. In addition to providing US Lacrosse's 200,000 members with discounted admission to both events, US Lacrosse will also work with Patriot League institutions to publicize a designated home game during the regular-season for all Patriot league men's and women's teams.

"We are pleased to forge this new partnership with US Lacrosse to help promote our Patriot League men's and women's lacrosse programs," said Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich. "We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship that will advance the sport of lacrosse in the Patriot League and nationally."

Four of the Patriot League's men's lacrosse teams were included in Inside Lacrosse's Face-Off Yearbook 2008 Preseason Top-25 Poll. Navy was the top-ranking Patriot League team at No. 9. Rounding out the Patriot League teams were Bucknell (17), Colgate (21) and Army (23). The Patriot League was one of three conferences to have four selections, joining the Atlantic Coast Conference and Colonial Athletic Association.

Navy heads into the 2008 season after winning its fourth-straight Patriot League Tournament Championship last year. The Mids went 11-4 overall and 6-0 in the Patriot League in 2007 and ended the season as the No. 8 team in the nation. Five of Navy's All-Patriot League selections from a season ago will be back in action this year, including seniors Nick Mirabito, Jordan DiNola and Brendan Teague, junior Geoff Leone and sophomore Basil Daratsos. DiNola, Mirabito, Daratsos and Leone all received preseason All-America honors from Inside Lacrosse.

On the women's side, Holy Cross will look to repeat as champion for the third consecutive season in 2008. The Crusaders are coming off their second-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, after falling in the first round to top-seeded Northwestern a season ago. Junior Megan Fenton is the team's leading returning scorer from last year's team that posted an undefeated record in Patriot League play.

The 2008 Patriot League Men's and Women's Lacrosse Championships will take place Friday, April 25 and Sunday, April 27 at the site of the highest seed.