NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – After making its second appearance in the NCAA Championship last season, the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team was slated to finish third in the 2026 Northeast 10 Conference Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced on Thursday.

The Hawks collected 62 points to secure third place out of the 10 teams competing in the conference. Pace University was tabbed just above Saint Anselm with 73 points and one first place vote. The reigning champions, Adelphi University, took the top spot with 81 points and nine first place votes.

The Hawks concluded the 2025 campaign with an 12-7 overall record, going 6-4 against NE10 competition. After defeating No. 20 Bentley University in the opening round of the NE10 Championship, the top-seeded and No. 8 nationally-ranked Pace Setters topped the Hawks by a final score of 14-13 in the semifinals.

The Hawks are one of four NE10 programs entering the 2026 campaign ranked in the Top 25 of the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) Division II national rankings, checking in at No. 22.

Saint Anselm is set to embark on a 16-game schedule beginning on Saturday, Feb. 21 when the Hawks take on Roberts Wesleyan University at noon at Redhawks Field.

The complete NE10 preseason coaches' poll is listed below. 

2026 NE10 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

1. Adelphi - 91 (9)

2. Pace - 73 (1)

3. Saint Anselm - 62

4. Bentley - 54

5. Assumption - 48

6. Southern Connecticut State - 44

7. Southern New Hampshire - 36

8. Saint Michael's - 22

9. Franklin Pierce - 20

10. American Int'l - 10

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