The Moccasins are picked to finish third in the Deep South Conference in the preseason poll conducted by insidelacrosse.com. Defending DSC champion Catawba was named to the top spot, while Mars Hill was selected to finish second. Picked to finish behind the top three are Wingate, Saint Leo, Rollins, Lenoir-Rhyne, Tampa and Florida Tech. Attacker Mat Thompson, midfielder Chas LaDue, and defender Larry Gress were the Moccasins selected to the preseason all-conference team. Thompson started every game last year and led the Moccasins with 32 goals. He scored at least three goals in seven games, including a season-high six against Saint Leo. Thompson was second on the team with 38 points and picked up 18 ground balls. LaDue also started every game last year as the Moccasins primary faceoff player. He set a program record winning 178 faceoffs and having a .578 faceoff percentage.  He was fourth on the team with 37 ground balls. Gress was one of the leaders of the Moccasin defense, holding conference player of the year Tyler Farmer to one goal in the Mocs’ win over Mars Hill. He also had 30 ground balls and one assist on the season. Coach Marty Ward returns 10 starters from last season’s 8-7 squad that tied for second in the DSC with a 4-2 mark. The team advanced to the conference championship game before falling to Catawba 10-8. The Moccasins open their season February 10 on the road against Deep South Conference rival Tampa. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.