COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Maverick men's lacrosse team was picked second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Thursday by conference officials.
 
The Mavericks went 9-2 overall and 5-0 in RMAC play last year and will be looking to defend their RMAC Regular Season title.  They then advanced to their fifth consecutive RMAC Tournament Championship game before being upset by Westminster, which was picked first in Thursday's poll, in the final.
 
The Griffins, who went 7-5 and 3-2 in RMAC play last season, received three first place votes and topped the poll with nine points.  CMU received the first place vote from Westminster and had seven points.
 
Adams State, 0-8 (0-6 RMAC) in 2021, was picked third with five points while CSU Pueblo, 3-5 (2-2 RMAC) last year, was picked fourth with three points.
 
Each of the conference's four head coaches were ask to rank their opposition first through third without voting for their own squad.
 
Maverick Head Coach Vince Smith, the reigning RMAC Coach of the Year, returns five first team and 13 overall All-RMAC selections from last year's squad.  He will also have the services of RMAC Attacker of the Year Hunter Holcomb, RMAC Midfielder of the Year James Steinke and RMAC Freshman of the Year Dylan Checketts.
 
The Mavs will begin the season on Feb. 9 at Alabama-Huntsville for the first of three games away from home in the southeastern part of the country before hosting Westminster in their RMAC and home-opener on Feb. 27.