Key Takeaways
- Adelphi is looking to become the first team to three-peat in NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse
- Tampa returns a wealth of offensive weapons and one of the nation’s top lockdown defenders
- Saint Anselm is loaded with returning talent, including a strong trio of specialists
- Wingate’s offense is stacked, led by Kyle Spence who posted 118 points in 2025
- Lenoir-Rhyne reloaded after graduating Evan Voss, with Matthew Mancini facing off and new faces on the team
Introduction to the Rankings
The NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse rankings are out, and there are some exciting teams to watch this season. Adelphi is looking to make history by becoming the first team to three-peat in the division. The Panthers have a strong case for having the top attackman, midfielder, and defenseman in the country. However, they will need to find a new goalie to replace All-American Dylan Renner. With multiple players competing for the spot, including transfers Christian Tomei, Thomas Gentile, and Santacroce, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the starter.
Top Contenders
Tampa is another team to watch, returning a wealth of offensive weapons led by Tommy Ortega, and one of the nation’s top lockdown defenders in Gordy Gombold. Despite losing some key players to graduation, the Spartans have the pieces to make a deep run in the tournament. Saint Anselm is also loaded with returning talent, including a strong trio of specialists in Colby Goodchild, Finn Granana, and Quinn Gannon. The Hawks are ready to take on a tough schedule in the NE-10 and make a push for the championship.
Teams on the Rise
Wingate’s offense is stacked, led by Kyle Spence who posted 118 points in 2025. The team will miss Peyton Farley on defense, but with a deep lineup of weapons, they are poised to make some noise. Lenoir-Rhyne reloaded after graduating Evan Voss, with Matthew Mancini facing off and new faces on the team. The team is looking to make a strong run in the tournament, and with Mancini winning faceoffs, they should have plenty of possessions to work with. Maryville is also looking to build on their success from last season, when they reached the NCAA semifinals. Justin Simonson returns from a 40-40 season and will look to lead the Saints back to postseason glory.
Mid-Major Teams
Seton Hill is another team to watch, returning a strong core of players including Will Cody, Carter Green, and Wade Brunelle. The Griffins posted a stellar 18-2 record in 2025 and are looking to make a deep run in the tournament. Lewis is also looking for revenge after losing in the GVLC title game overtime last season. With high-scoring attackman Malikye Good and top cover defender Tyler Davis back, the team is poised to make some noise. Molloy is loaded with returners, including Brian Green and Tommy Corcoron, and will look to build on their success from last season.
Teams Looking to Prove Themselves
Anderson is a team that may be ranked too high, but with five players who combined for 358 points returning, they are certainly a team to watch. Pace is not an also-ran in any sense, but they still have plenty to prove after losing to Molloy in overtime in the North East Regional round of last year’s NCAA tournament. Chris Butler is one of the top defenders in the nation, and the team will look to him to lead them to victory. Mercy lost three of their top four scorers to graduation, but they still have plenty to prove in out-of-conference play. Bentley will need Kyle Piersiak to lead a team with a lot of fresh faces in the lineup, and Newberry will need to find a defensive alpha after Jack Travassos went pro.
Teams on the Bubble
Colorado Mesa needs to find a new go-to guy after JJ Brummett graduated, but the team has plenty of versatile offensive options that make them difficult to match up against. Flagler had a dream season in 2025, but it ended too early. The team will look to sustain their rise with Trace McDonald leading the offense. Rockhurst dropped some tough one-goal games last season, but with most of the core back, they will look to flip those losses into wins. North Greenville made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2025 and will look to build on that success with Caden Castle leading the offense. Belmont Abbey lost some key players to the portal, but most of the offense is intact from an 11-4 team in 2025. UIndy has a tough non-conference schedule, but defense and faceoffs will be major strengths for the Greyhounds, led by one of the nation’s best SSDMs in Tyler Bernarduci.