The Sun's projected top seeds

College Lacrosse Preview

No. 1 Duke

Coach -- Mike Pressler (16th season, 147-80; 22nd season overall, 223-100)

2005 record -- 17-3, NCAA tournament finalist

Conference -- Atlantic Coast

Top returning scorer -- Matt Danowski, junior A (50 goals, 42 assists)

Also back -- Zack Greer, sophomore A (57, 15); Dan Flannery, senior A (46, 26); Matt Zash, senior M (21, 18); Peter Lamade, junior M (16, 13); Kyle Dowd, senior M (20, 11); Bret Thompson, senior M (15, 3); Nick O'Hara, junior D; Tony McDevitt, junior D; Casey Carroll, junior D; Danny Loftus, junior G

Key additions -- Gibbs Fogarty, freshman A; Ned Crotty, freshman M

The Sun's take -- The best season in Duke history ended with a 9-8 loss to Johns Hopkins in last year's NCAA title game, and the Blue Devils are a loaded, confident group in 2006. The nation's most explosive offense, led by the game's premier attackman in Danowski, is intact. Duke once again will hurt opponents from all kinds of angles, creating scoring chances with crisp passing and strong dodging. The biggest question mark is at the defensive end, where the Blue Devils must replace Goalie of the Year Aaron Fenton. Loftus and redshirt freshman Rob Schroeder could battle for the job well into the season.

No. 2 Johns Hopkins

Coach -- Dave Pietramala (sixth season, 63-10; ninth season overall, 86-27)

2005 record -- 16-0, NCAA champion

Conference -- Independent

Top returning scorer -- Paul Rabil, sophomore M (23, 14)

Also back -- Jake Byrne, junior A (22, 10); Kevin Huntley, sophomore A (23, 6); Greg Peyser, senior M (17, 6); Stephen Peyser, junior M (10 goals); Matt Pinto, senior D; Eric Zerrlaut, senior D; Jamison Koesterer, junior M; Matt Field, senior M; Brendan Skakandi, junior LSM; Jesse Schwartzman, junior G (.626 save percentage)

Key additions -- Matt Drenan, freshman D; Tom Duerr, freshman A; Austin Walker, freshman M; Andrew Miller, freshman M

The Sun's take -- The 11-man senior class that lost a total of six games, never lost at home and finally brought back a championship to Homewood is gone. But no one is weeping for Hopkins, which has enough left in the tank to win another title. Rabil might be the best midfielder in the country, Huntley and Byrne are tremendous finishers and Duerr will start after becoming the second-leading scorer in New Jersey high school history. The Peyser brothers add impressive depth in the middle. Pinto and Schwartzman anchor an athletic defense that will take more chances than a typical Pietramala-coached unit and will feature Drenan, a top-shelf recruit from San Diego.

No. 3 Maryland

Coach -- Dave Cottle (fifth season, 45-17; 24th season overall, 226-87)

2005 record -- 11-6, NCAA tournament semifinals

Conference -- Atlantic Coast

Top returning scorer -- Joe Walters, senior A (38, 15)

Also back -- Xander Ritz, senior M/A (16, 17); Max Ritz, sophomore A (11, 2); Michael Phipps, junior A (8, 6); Bill McGlone, senior M (26, 7); Brendan Healy, senior M (20, 8); Steve Whittenberg, junior D; Ray Megill, junior D; Joe Cinosky, sophomore D; Harry Alford, junior G

Key additions -- Josh Ardossi, freshman A; Danny Groot, freshman M; Danny Gallagher, freshman A

The Sun's take -- The Terps, who were so young last spring while sputtering to a 5-5 start, matured in a hurry down the stretch and look built to make a deep postseason run again this time around. Whittenberg, Megill and Alford are All-America material, although Alford needs to be more consistent in big games. Walters might be the game's best pure scorer this side of Matt Danowski. If the Terps improve on their sub-par shooting, Walters should be even more dangerous. McGlone, who is nursing a sore hamstring, is a great scorer when healthy.

No. 4 Navy

Coach -- Richie Meade (12th season, 88-61; 16th season overall, 115-84)

2005 record -- 12-4, NCAA tournament quarterfinals

Conference -- Patriot League

Top returning scorer -- Jon Birsner, senior A (11, 31)

Also back -- Steve Looney, senior M (22, 5); Billy Looney, junior M (22, 4); Nick Mirabito, sophomore A (27, 6); Tommy Wallin, junior M (9, 3); William Wallace, junior M (8, 2); Andrew Dow, junior D; Victor Barger, junior D; Matt Russell, senior G (6.69 goals allowed per game); Ward Hackett, senior M; Cody Shea, senior M; Matt Guido, sophomore A; Jordan DiNola, sophomore D

Key additions -- Ian Dingman, junior A; Thomas Zimmerman, freshman D; Geoff Leone, freshman M

The Sun's take -- Navy missed Dingman last year after he was dismissed for academic reasons. He is back, two years after scoring 62 points to lead the Midshipmen to the NCAA title game. Navy also was missed Steve Looney - its best all-around player - in a 10-8 quarterfinal loss to Virginia last year. His ankle is healed. The offense, with Birsner setting the tone with his excellent vision and passing, might have to lead the way early on, while the defense gains cohesion after losing stalwarts Mitch Hendler and Mike Felber to graduation.