UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., February 12, 2004 -Senior Rob Bateman (Sparks, Md./Hereford) and junior Will Jones (Annapolis, Md./DeMatha) were selected to the 2004 ECAC Preseason All-League Team in a vote by Eastern College Athletic Conference coaches on Wednesday.

Bateman was voted as the lone long-stick midfielder on the team and was also named ECAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, he started in all 14 matches and led Penn State and the ECAC in ground balls (90) and ground balls per game average (6.92). Bateman earned second-team All-ECAC honors last season and was selected as a USILA honorable-mention All-American.

Filling one of three midfield positions on the team was Jones. He tied for sixth on the team in points with 12 and collected 16 ground balls last year. Jones scored two goals against Towson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and scored the game-winning goal against undefeated Massachusetts earlier in the season. He was selected as ECAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week after his three-goal performance against the Minutemen.

The Nittany Lions will take on Lehigh in an exhibition match, Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Holuba Hall. The team will then travel to Columbus, Ohio to battle the Ohio State Buckeyes in their season opener on Feb. 21 at 1:00 p.m.