BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- The Lindenwood-Belleville men's lacrosse team has released its 2016 schedule and announced captains for the upcoming season. The Lynx are coming off a 7-8 campaign in 2015 and look to improve on that record with strong leadership from the newly voted on captains and increased strength of schedule.

This season, the Lynx individually voted on four players they felt would fulfill and uphold the role of captain for the upcoming season. Upon voting, the team elected four seniors to lead the team: Corey Marquard, Andy Kunkmueller, Cody Trella, and Cody Fincher. All four of these players enter their fourth season with the Lynx, each being outstanding contributors in their three years since helping start the program back in 2013.

Marquard returns as a captain from the 2015 season and is the reigning Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRLC) Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named to the 2015 honorable mention All-America team. Fincher was named third-team All-Conference in 2015 and plays an important role on both the offensive and defensive side of midfield. Trella was named first-team All-Conference attack and was also honorable mention All-America in 2015. In 2014, Kunkmueller was named first-team All-Conference and was also recognized as an All-America honorable mention selection.

Head coach Dan Mertzlufft was pleased with the choices for captains this year.

“I really like the captains, the seniors, and I’m really excited for this team," he said. "We have a ton of talent and we have the legs to play with anyone in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA).”

The 2016 schedule will prove to be a tough one for the Lynx as they are set to face five opponents that finished inside the top-20 in the 2015 MCLA final poll. They include the University of Dayton -- the reigning MCLA National Champion -- Missouri Valley College, Florida Gulf Coast, Palm Beach Atlantic and Kennesaw State.

The Lynx have high hopes for the season as they look to make the MCLA National Tournament in May.

“Our schedule is tough by design. I really like this team and I think we can make this a special year,” added Mertzlufft. “We play a lot of quality teams both in and out of our conference so I’m very excited for the spring.”

They will begin the season on Feb. 6 against Lindenwood-St. Charles, which begins a nine game home stand to begin the season. During spring break, the Lynx will take on three consecutive preseason ranked opponents in Florida Gulf Coast, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Kennesaw State.

2016 Lindenwood-Belleville Schedule