From Press Release MELBOURNE, Fla. -The 2016 Sunshine State Conference men’s lacrosse preseason poll was released Wednesday afternoon via the conference office, sitting at the top of the poll was the No. 8 University of Tampa Spartans. The Spartans received 25 total votes and five first-place votes. The poll gives a four vote edge to the Spartans over Florida Tech. The Panthers received a total of 21 votes overall and the final first place vote. The first place nod marks the third consecutive year the Spartans have been picked as the favorite to win the SSC title. Tampa (15-4, 6-0) won their second consecutive SSC regular season and tournament titles. The Spartans again advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals and were defeated by Lake Erie, 15-7, in the first round. Florida Tech (12-4, 3-2) finished as the Sunshine State Conference runner-up in 2015, falling to Tampa 11-8 in the conference tournament championship game. Sunshine State Conference play opens up on February 28, with Lynn University hosting the University of Tampa. The SSC Tournament will begin April 28th. For more information please click here For a more in-depth preview of the 2016 season click here 2016 SSC MEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON COACHES POLL Rank 1 2 3 4 T5 T5    School (FPV) Tampa (5) Florida Tech (1) Lynn Rollins Florida Southern Saint Leo    Total Votes 25 21 15 13 8 8 Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tampaspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (youtube.com/utathletics) and Instagram (tampaspartans). UT also offers a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com