NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - For the first time in program history, the Wilmington University men's lacrosse team has been voted to finish first in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference as the conference office announced the 2023 CACC Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday.
The Wildcats went a perfect 6-0 last year to win their first CACC Regular Season Championship. They advanced to their second consecutive CACC Tournament Championship game, falling to Chestnut Hill, 13-12, and then narrowly missed out on the NCAA Regional Tournament.
Wilmington earned five of the eight first-place votes and collected 54 total points to sit atop the poll. Two-time reigning CACC Tournament Champion Chestnut Hill is second with two first-place votes and 51 total points. Georgian Court picked up the final first-place vote and finished third with 44 total points.
Dominican ranks fourth with 37 total points while Post is fifth with 31. Felician earned 29 points for sixth while Caldwell (20 points) and first-year program and new to the CACC as a whole Bridgeport (14 points) follows.
The Wildcats have a tough opening stretch of game in 2023, playing four Nationally ranked opponents out of the gates. The season starts with a trip to defending National Champion and No. 1 Tampa on Saturday, February 11. The CACC portion of the schedule begins with a home game against Caldwell on April 1.
2023 CACC MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Wilmington University 54 (5)
2. Chestnut Hill College 51 (2)
3. Georgian Court University 44 (1)
4. Dominican University 37
5. Post University 31
6. Felician University 29
7. Caldwell University 20
8. University of Bridgeport 14
() - First-Place Votes