Student-athletes Matt Hall and Breanainn McNeally have been selected as Division III Preseason All-America Honorable Mention choices by Face-Off Yearbook. The duo, both seniors who helped Rensselaer to a 13-5 record last season and its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, were both tabbed for USILA/Nike All-America Honorable Mention recognition in 2016.
As a junior midfielder, Hall played all 18 games last year, including one as a starter, and finished second on the team with 32 goals and 45 points. He scored eight man-up markers and a game-winning goal. The All-Liberty League First Team and Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Region Second Team honoree added 13 assists, a team-high 97 shots (59 on goal), and 20 ground balls.
In 49 career games, the mechanical engineering major has 73 goals and 36 assists for 109 points. He has 13 man-up goals and three game-winning markers on 270 shots (164 on goal) with 53 ground balls. He led the team in shots once and ranked second in goals twice.
McNeally, an attack, was also an All-Liberty League First Team choice after breaking the school record for goals in a season with 54. He also led the team in points with 67, man-up goals with 14, and game-winning goals with four. McNeally, who was third in the Liberty League in goals per game (3.00) and fourth in points per game (3.72), also registered a team-best 74 shots on goal with 30 ground balls.
In 48 career games, including 47 starts, McNeally has 129 goals and 38 assists for 167 points with 264 shots (203 on goal) and 76 ground balls. He has 31 man-up goals and nine game-winners. He has led the team in goals and points all three years and has been first in man-up goals, game-winning goals and shots on goal two times each.
The Engineers, who are coached by Jim Townsend, are ranked 14th in Division III, according to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/Nike Coaches Preseason Poll. Their season begins on February 25 when the team hosts Keene State College in a non-league game at East Campus Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.