US Lacrosse Magazine announced Tuesday its 2021 Division II Men’s Preseason Positional Players of the Year, part of the magazine’s immersive coverage leading to the upcoming spring season.

Five players — an attackman, midfielder, defenseman, specialist and goalie — earned this distinction thanks to their performances during the 2020 season and our expectations for 2021.

Next Tuesday (Dec. 29), US Lacrosse Magazine will reveal its overall Division II Men’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Preseason Attackman of the Year
Eric Dickinson, Lenoir-Rhyne

The redshirt senior has amassed 225 points (156 goals and 69 assists) in three-plus seasons to help the Bears become a threat in the Division II landscape. In seven games before the COVID-19 cancellation, Dickinson was averaging over three goals and two assists per game.

Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Jordan Stouros, Limestone

Stouros returns to Limestone for his fifth year having already been drafted 23rd overall by the NLL’s Buffalo Bandits. One opposing coach called him “the real deal.” Stouros is fast ascending the Limestone leaderboard with 170 career ground balls and 50 career caused turnovers.  

Preseason Defenseman of the Year
Justin Napolitano, Adelphi

A transfer from SUNY Farmingdale in 2018, all Napolitano has done is cause turnovers and scoop up ground balls in his two seasons with the Panthers. He was a USILA first-team All-American in 2019 with 23 caused turnovers and 34 ground balls.

Preseason Goalie of the Year
Andrew Avarello, Mount Olive

Avarello had double-digit saves in four of Mount Olive’s seven games before the pandemic forced the cancellation of the season. In 2019, Avarello came up big in the most important games, notching 22 saves each against Wingate and Limestone. He also chipped in 18 saves in a win over Florida Southern.

Preseason Specialist of the Year
Ross Dickerson, Tampa

Dickerson projects to finish as the most successful faceoff specialist in NCAA history across all divisions. His career mark of 76.1 percent is slightly better than that of Yale’s TD Ierlan (75.3), who is also a fifth-year senior.