NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Assumption University men's lacrosse team was selected to finish fifth, according to the Northeast 10 Conference Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll on Friday afternoon.
The Panthers received 64 votes and all available first-place votes (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own schools). AU has gone 36-6 (16-1) the last two seasons, winning the Division II national title at the end of each. The only team to topple Adelphi from the NE10 over that span is then No. 5 Saint Anselm, clipping the Panthers, 9-6, in Manchester before AU delivered a receipt in the NE10 Championship final.
Adelphi embarks on 2026 hunting for a third-straight NCAA title, something never before accomplished by a men's team at the DII level. Last year marked the seventh back-to-back title win in Division II.
AU has a massive hole to fill in goal with the graduation of 2024 National Player of the Year and 2x National Goalkeeper of the Year Dylan Renner; however, the team's offense returns immense firepower with National Attackman and National Midfielder of the Year Braden Donnellan and Kyle Lewis. Ries Bower returns at close defense and is joined by Canadian countryman Carter Linkletter, who transferred in from American International.
Saint Anselm enters 2026 on the heels of one of the best seasons in program history. The Hawks advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the second consecutive year. Their only losses in 2025 came to eventual NCAA champion Adelphi. Saint A's will be anchored by keeper Finn Granara and sophomore Matt Lemay, one of the top rookie scorers in the conference a spring ago.
Pace, meanwhile, was never far from the mix last spring, finishing 6-2 and sitting as a staple in the national rankings. The Setters return two of their top three scorers in Declan Landers and Will Danowski, along with keeper Jack Kern.
The Greyhounds begin their 2026 season on Saturday, February 7th, as they host D'Youville University. To view the full 2026 schedule, click
HERE. Watch all home and conference games this season on
NE10 NOW on FloSports.
The complete NE10 preseason coaches' poll can be found below:
| Place |
Team |
Votes |
1st Place |
| 1 |
Adelphi |
64 |
8 |
| 2 |
Saint Anselm |
57 |
1 |
| 3 |
Pace |
49 |
|
| 4 |
Bentley |
40 |
|
| 5 |
Assumption |
36 |
|
| 6 |
SNHU |
31 |
|
| 7 |
Saint Michael's |
24 |
|
| 8 |
Franklin Pierce |
15 |
|
| 9 |
American International |
8 |
|
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