ANGOLA, IND.  --  The Trine University men's lacrosse team has been picked to finish fifth overall in the 2020 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll.

Hope, the 2019 MIAA regular season and tournament champions, received six points with those six first-place votes to finish in front of second-place Albion, who had 11 points and the remaining first-place vote. Alma ranked third with 16 points, while Calvin (21 points) edged Trine (25 points) for fourth place. Kalamazoo (32 points) and Adrian (34 points) rounded out the poll.

The Thunder ended the 2019 season with a 7-5 overall record and were fifth in the conference with a 2-4 mark.  Trine returns one of its two All-MIAA honorees from last season in junior defenseman Dave Keptner (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow).  The 2018 MIAA "Rookie of the Year" was a first-team All-Conference pick last season after Keptner led the team in both caused turnovers (17) and ground balls (67).  His 17 ground balls put him in a tie for 10th in the conference and his 67 ground balls were the fourth most.

Keptner was part of a defense that ranked third in the league in fewest goals allowed per game at 9.67.  

On the offensive side of the ball, Keptner finished with a point on the season with one assist.  He also took one shot in 12 games.

Trine will begin the 2020 season on Wednesday, Feb. 19 against Anderson (Ind) University at Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.