LATHAM, N.Y. - The 2026 United East Men’s lacrosse Preseason Poll has been released with five teams included in the rankings. Find the results below:
| 1. |
St. Mary's College of Maryland (4) |
| 2. |
Penn College (1) |
| 3. |
University of Pitt-Bradford |
| 4. |
Cairn University |
| 5. |
Notre Dame of Maryland University |
*(#) denotes first place votes
The Seahawks have dominated the men’s lacrosse landscape ever since joining the conference in 2021. St. Mary’s has hoisted the trophy its fourth-straight time, taking down Penn College in last year's final. The team graduated a number of talent including three-time All-America Honorable Mention Quinnten Hatfield but still has a healthy dose of talent left on the roster. Last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Joe Szymanski, will anchor a defense that allowed just nine goals against in conference play. Offensively, Joshua Martel will return after sustaining an injury in 2025 that kept the 2024 Player of the Year off the field for a majority of the season.
The Wildcats continue to improve each year, posting a 14-win season in just the program’s fifth season of existence. The squad will rely on young leadership from Elliot Dotson who picked up 2025 Player and Rookie of the Year honors after he finished the year with 96 points (43 goals, 53 assists).
Newcomer to the United East, Pitt-Bradford, will look to shake things up as the young program continues to grow. The Panthers garnered five wins in its first season and rostered the Alleghany Mountain Athletic Conference (AMCC) Offensive Player of the Year in Ben Byers.
Cairn sits at fourth in the preseason standings, returning their lone All-Conference member in Cole Heffler. Notre Dame of Maryland rounds out the standings as the program will take to the field for the first time ever in 2026.
The United East Championship will see four teams earn a spot in the postseason with the Semi Final round taking place on Wednesday April 29. The Final will then commence on May 2. All games will take place at the higher seed's facility.
Check out the 2026 Lacrosse Schedule here: 2026 MEN'S LACROSSE SCHEDULE
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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.