NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team was tabbed to finish second in the 2026 Northeast 10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Friday. The Hawks, who bowed out of the NCAA Championship in the semifinal round the past two seasons, advanced one spot in the poll from a season ago.
Led by second-year head coach Drew Bourdeau '18, the reigning NE10 Co-Coach of the Year, Saint Anselm obtained 57 points, including one first place vote, to finish just below the reigning NE10 and National Champions, Adelphi University.
The Hawks put together one of the best seasons in program history in 2025, earning the outright title of NE10 Regular Season Champions, posting an 11-0 record with an 8-0 league ledger heading into the conference postseason.
Saint Anselm went on to advance to the NE10 Championship with a thrilling 10-9 overtime win over Bentley University in the semifinals before falling to Adelphi in the title game.
With a 12-1 overall record in hand, the Hawks earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship for their fifth consecutive appearance.
After wins over Bentley and Seton Hill University in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, Saint Anselm and Adelphi met for a rematch in the NCAA Semifinals, with the Panthers coming out on top, 13-11.
The Hawks concluded the campaign 14-2 and ranked ninth in the nation, according to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Coaches Poll. Multiple Hawks brought home postseason honors, with 10 earning NE10 accolades, nine earning New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) All-New England honors, seven being named to USILA All-Region teams, six earning USILA All-America honors, and five being named USA Lacrosse All-Americans.
Saint Anselm heads into the 2026 campaign ranked No. 3 in the country, according to the USA Lacrosse Top 20, and will begin its 12-game slate on Sunday, March 1 at home against Frostburg State University. The opening draw from Grappone Stadium is set for noon.
The complete NE10 preseason coaches' poll is listed below.
2026 NE10 Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Adelphi - 64 (8)
2. Saint Anselm - 57 (1)
3. Pace - 49
4. Bentley - 40
5. Assumption - 36
6. Southern New Hampshire - 31
7. Saint Michael's – 24
8. Franklin Pierce - 15
9. American Int'l - 8
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