HADDONFIELD, N.J. – In a near tie, Marymount came out on top, as selected by the coaches, in the 2026 Atlantic East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll. The Saints received 23 total points with three first place votes, while Immaculata received an identical three first place votes, but fell short with 22 total points.
Marymount, last year’s runners-up, bring back several key contributors, most notably Atlantic East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection Spencer Carfang, along with First Team All-Conference honoree Ian Fructuoso and Second Team All-Conference selection Kanye Otto. Carfang is currently tied for the program record for single-game caused turnovers (6), showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing offenses.Fructuoso was one of the Saints’ top offensive threats last season, finishing with 38 goals while also ranking among the team leaders in ground balls (40), highlighting his all-around presence on the field. Head Coach Jon Reynolds enters his 21st season guiding the Saints.
The reigning champions, Immaculata, received 22 total points and three first place votes, landing second in the poll. The Mighty Macs return netminder Matthew Ludlow, a 2025 First Team All-Conference selection. Ludlow will captain his side after recording 229 saves last season. Senior defender Colton Rhoades, also a 2025 First Team selection, returns after a year in which he started 18 games, scooping up 44 ground balls and causing a staggering 23 turnovers. The Mighty Macs also return two Second Team All-Conference selections, both of whom played key roles in their undefeated run of conference play last season. After being awarded Coaching Staff of the Year last season, Immaculata is under new tutelage with Kent Snoddy entering into his first year as the main man. Snoddy was an assistant coach and part of the honored 2025 staff last year, after serving as the University of Virginia Men’s Lacrosse program manager during the 2024 campaign.
Marywood, picked third in the coaches poll with 16 points, finished the 2025 season with an even 9-9 record, going 3-2 in Atlantic East play. The Pacers bowed out in the semifinals to eventual runners-up, Marymount. Dalton Gerver is the lone 2025 First Team All-Conference returner for Marywood. Gerver started all 18 games last season, scooping up 49 ground balls and causing 19 turnovers. The 2025 Rookie of the Year, Ben Meighan, looks to continue his strong run of form following a season in which he scored 19 goals and dished out nine assists (good for 28 points) through 15 games, while also adding 19 ground balls and causing five turnovers. On the coaching side, Ryan Nowell, a 2015 graduate of Marywood, enters into his second season as the Pacers’ head coach.
Coming in fourth, with 13 points, Gwynedd Mercy. The Griffins are led by head coach Blase Cesarone in his fifth season at the position. Last year, Gwynedd went 2-3 in conference play, landing the #4 seed and taking on top seeded Immaculata in the semifinals, ending their season with an overall 6-10 record. Josh Devine, a senior attackman, was the sole First Team All-Conference selection last season, and returns after scoring a staggering 32 goals through 16 games, adding 19 assists for a total of 51 points. Remaining a consistent force throughout, he also scooped up 52 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers. The Griffins also return two of their four Second Team All-Conference selections in Gunnar Seaman and Dylan Gazda, the latter of whom will serve as a captain.
The Knights of Neumann were placed fifth after receiving 11 total points. Both Luke Sykes and Brendan Boschi, 2025 First Team All-Conference selections, will return for their senior season, hoping to lead the Knights to a playoff berth. After going 1-4, Neumann missed out on a playoff spot last year, going 1-4 in conference play, but will remain optimistic following the hiring of Evan Bohner as the programs’ new Head Coach. Bohner comes to Neumann after a five year spell at Arcadia University, where he served as the Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach.
Centenary rounded out the field of six, receiving five total points. The Cyclones are led by Head Coach Dan Gold, who is in his second year at the helm. He developed three Second Team All-Conference selections in 2025- Marty Zoet, Gerald Haak, and Hayden McMullen, with Zoet being the lone returner of the trio, and will look to lead with experience as he begins his sophomore season.
All teams will begin non-conference competition on the week of February 9, with Gwynedd Mercy being the first game as the Griffins take on Moravian University at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11. Neumann will host Haverford on Friday, February 13, followed by Marymount, Immaculata and Marywood on Saturday, February 14. The Cyclones of Centenary have the latest start date this spring, starting play on Saturday, February 21, against Purchase College.
Conference play begins on Friday, March 27 with Marymount traveling north to Immaculata. On Saturday, March 28, Gwynedd Mercy will host Marywood and Centenary will travel to Neumann.
The 2026 Atlantic East Tournament is set to begin with the semifinals on Saturday, April 25, and the championship match on either Friday, May 1 or Saturday, May 2.
Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Marymount - 23 (3)
2. Immaculata - 22 (3)
3. Marywood - 16
4. Gwynedd Mercy - 13
5. Neumann - 11
6. Centenary - 5
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising eight institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary and Saint Elizabeth Universities in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
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