USILA DIII Coaches Poll

TROY, N.Y. – The Liberty League has announced its weekly award winners in men's lacrosse and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Nick Billy has been named the Offensive Performer of the Week. Additionally, the Engineers are preparing for a non-conference showdown against #15 Middlebury on Tuesday at East Campus Stadium at 4:30pm.

Billy, a junior attack out of Redding, Conn., helped RPI improve to 10-1 last week, coming off the bench to score a game-best three goals in a 12-7 victory over Muhlenberg. He also added an assist and had seven shots in the game.

The Joel Barlow High School graduate currently leads the Engineers in scoring with 32 points on 20 goals and 12 assists. Among his 20 tallies, which are a team-high, are a game-winner and three man-up goals. He also has 22 ground balls and four caused turnovers. Among Liberty League opponents, Billy ranks fourth in goals (1.82) and points (2.91) per contest. He has posted two or more points in at least nine games this season, including five with four points or higher.

Rensselaer, which is guided by 14th-year head coach Jim Townsend, moved up one spot in this week's USILA Division III Coaches' Poll to 14th following the game against Muhlenberg. The Engineers currently stand alone atop the Liberty League standings with a 4-0 record. The squad has also put up conference-best numbers in several categories, including goals against average (4.96), goals per game (10.82), assists per game (6.09), points per game (16.91) and ground balls per contest (40.27).

Nationally, the Engineers are listed among the best in Division III in several categories. Based on the NCAA's statistical numbers from April 11, RPI was ranked first in scoring defense, allowing just 4.80 goals per contest. They were also eighth in winning percentage (.900) and 24th in ground balls per game (40.00). Currently, Rensselaer has allowed 4.96 goals per contest, owns a .909 win% and has a 40.27 ground balls per game average.

Individually, freshman James Manchester (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) leads all Division III goalies with a 4.94 goals against average. He also ranks fifth nationally in save percentage (.646) and is first and second in both categories, respectively, in the Liberty League.

The Engineers feature seven players with 10 points or more, led Billy's 32. Senior captain and midfielder Paul Cerone (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) has eight goals and a team-best 17 assists for 25 points, while senior attack Devin Arnold (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) rounds out the top three with 22 points (14 goals, 8 assists).

Live stats for Tuesday's game against the #15 Panthers will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/rpi/mlax/index.htm and the game will also be broadcast live via pay-per-view webcast at http://www.b2tv.com/upcoming_events.asp?q=s&value=lacrosse.