NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Heading into the 2024 season, the Wilmington University men's lacrosse team was picked to finish third overall, receiving one first-place vote and 52 points overall as the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference announced its Preseason Coaches Poll.
Defending CACC Regular Season Champion Georgian Court was picked atop the 2024 CACC Coaches Poll, earning five first-place votes and 61 points overall. Defending CACC Tournament Champion Chestnut Hill was picked second overall with three first-place votes and 57 total points.
The Wildcats, who have at least reached the CACC Tournament Semifinals in each of its six years of existence, went 6-7 last year after playing four nationally ranked teams to start the season. They went 5-2 in CACC play and finished third, falling to Chestnut Hill in the CACC Tournament Semifinals.
Post follows the Wildcats in fourth with 41 points while Dominican rounds out the expected team to make the CACC Tournament in fifth with 38 points. Felician was picked sixth with 26 points followed by Caldwell (24 points), Bridgeport (17 points), and first-year program Holy Family (8 points).
Wilmington's season begins on Saturday, February 24, when the Wildcats travel to Mercyhurst. The team's home opener is on Saturday, March 9 against Lake Erie and their CACC opener is on Saturday, March 16, against Bridgeport at home.
The regular season gets underway this weekend with Post University in action, followed by several more teams in action the following weekend (Feb. 9-10). The regular season is a buildup to the 2024 CACC Men's Lacrosse Championship which will be held the week of April 28-May 5. The top-five teams in the standings following the regular season will earn a bid to the post-season tournament.
2024 CACC MEN'S LACROSSE PREASEASON COACHES POLL
1. Georgian Court University 61 (5)
2. Chestnut Hill College 57 (3)
3. Wilmington University 52 (1)
4. Post University 41
5. Dominican University 38
6. Felician University 26
7. Caldwell University 24
8. University of Bridgeport 17
9. Holy Family University 8
() - First-Place Votes