Preseason Poll
SPARKS, Md. -- After making the program's fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals last year, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team enters the 2026 campaign ranked second in the
USA Lacrosse Magazine National Preseason Poll, which was announced by the publication on Friday morning.
The No. 2 ranking equals the highest attained by the Captains in a preseason poll. Previously, CNU also opened the year slotted second in 2023 and 2024. Overall, the program has earned a top-10 ranking in each of the last five preseason polls released by
USA Lacrosse Magazine. Last year, the squad kicked off the 2025 season ranked sixth in the country after securing the No. 4 spot in 2022.
Just ahead of the Captains, Tufts sits at the top of the poll after claiming last year's national championship. Meanwhile, Salisbury, Dickinson, and Bowdoin round out the top-five.
Christopher Newport welcomes back nine starters from last year's squad, which produced an 18-4 record while making a run to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Among the veterans, junior
Kevin Miller led the nation with 115 points and 81 assists in 2025, while senior
Jamie Smith boasted an NCAA-high 84 goals. Along with the dynamic duo at the forefront of the attack, senior goalie
Mason Bellinger, sophomore midfielder
Jackson Platner, and veteran defensemen
Mark Davison and
Colin DeGrassi also garnered All-American citations for their work last spring.
Overall, of the 15 Captains that appeared in all 22 games last year, 12 are back on the roster. That group includes
Fred Fulkerson, who started every game on the midfield unit, and faceoff specialist
Grant Giunchi, who won 59 percent of his attempts in 2025.
Facing another challenging schedule this spring, Christopher Newport will square off against eight programs that earned a spot in the preseason top-20. In addition to fellow top-five squads Tufts and Salisbury, CNU has upcoming battles with No. 6 Washington and Lee, No. 9 Gettysburg, No. 12 Lynchburg, No. 14 Amherst, No. 15 Stevenson, and No. 20 Roanoke. Additionally, perennial foe Grove City earned a spot in the publication's "Also Considered" category.
The Captains will open the spring on January 31 with a noon showdown against Elizabethtown at Jennings Family Stadium.
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