🥍 Getting Your First Look at the Top Teams in 2026

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For the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at DIII team and conference previews as we get closer and closer to the opening faceoff/draw of the 2026 season.

Defending champion Salisbury is our pick as the favorite to win the CLC. The Sea Gulls finished 20-1 overall last season and reached the third round of the NCAAs before being ousted by Dickinson, 11-10. Head coach Jim Berkman must find replacements for M Brice Bromwell and D John DeFazio who were both honored as the best players in DIII at their positions. LSM Jerry Stafford (49 CT, 58 GB) and M Riley Strub (69-12-81) are back after earning second and third-team All-America honors, respectively. Connor Herraiz (30-53-83) leads the attack, while Blake Malamphy won 63.5% of face-offs last season. Keep an eye on transfer Tristan Plotts up front.

Christopher Newport comes in at No. 2 after an 18-4 season that saw a one-goal loss to Salisbury in the CLC final and a run to the NCAA third round. A Kevin Miller (34-81-115) and A Jamie Smith (84-6-90) make up one of the most potent 1-2s in the country, while M Jackson Platner (24-23-47) is the headliner at midfield. D Mark Davison leads the close defense in front of GK Mason Bellinger (55.5%).

Kean and Mary Washington will battle for the third spot in the standings. The Cougars (14-5) are led by A Dylan Johnson (71-29-100), while the Eagles (9-8) look to SSDM Keller Dillman to lead the way. Stockton (9-10) and Montclair State (8-8) will also contend for a playoff berth. M Gage Parker (28-7-35) and D Shane Phillips (22 CT) are candidates for All-CLC honors for the Ospreys.

D3Lacrosse Preseason All-CLC Team. A-Connor Herraiz, Sr., Salisbury, 30-53-83; A-Dylan Johnson, Sr., Kean, 71-29-100; A-Kevin Miller, Jr., Christopher Newport, 34-81-115; M-Riley Strub, Sr., Salisbury, 69-12-81; M-Gage Parker, Jr., Stockton, 28-7-35; M-Jackson Platner, So., Christopher Newport, 24-23-47; D-Mark Davison, Jr., Christopher Newport, 32 CT; D-Shane Phillips, Sr., Stockton, 22 CT; D-Bryce Stevenson, Sr., Salisbury, 38 CT; LSM-Jerry Stafford, Sr., Salisbury, 49 CT; SSDM-Keller Dillman, Sr., Mary Washington, 66 GB; FO-Blake Malamphy, Sr., Salisbury, 63.5%; GK-Mason Bellinger, Sr., Christopher Newport, 55.5%.

Preseason Favorite. Salisbury
Preseason Player of the Year. Kevin Miller, CNU

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Denison is our pick to win the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference championship. The Big Red (13-7, 7-1) return All-NCAC performers in D Charlie Haight, SSDM AJ Boxler, FO Grant Larson and GK Andrew Albert (53.4%) on defense, while A Kevin Berutich (21-35-56) leads the offense.

Ohio Wesleyan (15-4, 8-0) won its third consecutive NCAC tournament title with a 13-10 triumph over Denison (13-7, 7-1) last season. The Bishops may have the league’s most prolific offense with a pair of first-team All-NCAC attackers in Wade Beckstrom (47-30-77) and Henry Ross (51-29-80). Trey Weber leads the defense but OWU needs to find a new keeper.

Kenyon (10-6, 5-3) and league newcomer John Carroll will look to break through the big two. The Owls look to A David Chintala (41-14-55) who scored 41 goals a year ago, while GK Adam Hall (56.1%) earned All-NCAC honors a year ago. The Blue Streaks move from the OAC and will turn to M Josh Lombardo (28-8-36) and D Cam Uchic to lead the way in the new conference. Keep an eye on A Braden Zarek who is back after an injury slowed him in 2025.

Oberlin (11-5, 5-3) and Wooster (9-8, 5-3) will also battle for a tournament berth. The Yeomen are led by A Jacob Starcke (50-7-57) and M Solomon Brennan (29-14-43), while Colin Taylor leads the defense. A Lane Kellogg (40-23-63) is the headliner on attack for the Scots, while D Dom Cuda had a strong first season.

D3Lacrosse Preseason All-NCAC Team. A-Wade Beckstrom, Jr., Ohio Wesleyan, 47-30-77; A-Henry Ross, Jr., Ohio Wesleyan, 51-29-80; A-David Chintala, Sr., Kenyon, 41-14-55; A-Jacob Starcke, Sr., Oberlin, 50-7-57; M-Solomon Brennan, Sr., Oberlin, 29-14-43; M-Josh Lombardo, Sr., John Carroll, 28-8-36; D-Charlie Haight, Jr., Denison, 14 CT; D-Colin Taylor, Jr., Oberlin, 43 CT; D-Cam Uchic, Sr., John Carroll, 26 CT; LSM-Khari Freeman, So., Denison, 32 GB; SSDM-AJ Boxler, Sr., Denison, 10 CT; FO-Grant Larson, Sr., Denison, 59.1%; GK-Andrew Albert, Sr., Denison, 53.4%.

Preseason Favorite. Denison
Preseason Player of the Year. Henry Ross, Jr., A, Ohio Wesleyan

MIT (13-8, 9-1) won its first NEWMAC championship in a decade last season and is our pick to repeat in 2026. The Engineer offense will be one of the most potent in the northeast with A Ashley Thomas (51-68-119), A Annica Lam (68-19-87) and M Gwen Flusche (36-20-56). Kelsey Dwyer leads the defense in front of GK Pauline Vien (52.8%).

Babson’s quest for a three-peat was stopped a year ago by MIT but the Beavers (15-4, 10-0) will look to return to the NEWMAC final behind a strong defense led by Claire Jones and Lyndsey Newsome. Springfield (14-4, 8-2) returns two of the league’s top players in A Lily Johnson (44-18-62) and M Izzy Lalancette (35-7-42).

Smith (10-8, 6-4) returns a potent offensive duo in A Kyra Hawk (61-25-86) and M Caroline Sanders (41-25-66). Coast Guard (10-6, 7-3) is led defensively by Ella Campbell and Rowan Walsh, while A Abby McAllister (36-31-67) is the offensive headliner.

Wheaton, Salve Regina and Clark will fight for a playoff berth, while Mount Holyoke, Emerson and Wellesley look for improvement in the NEWMAC standings.

D3Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team. A-Ashley Thomas, Sr., MIT, 51-68-119; A-Lily Johnson, Sr., Springfield, 44-18-62, 57 DC; A-Annica Lam, Sr., MIT, 68-19-87; A-Kyra Hawk, Jr., Smith, 61-25-86; A-Abby McAllister, Sr., Coast Guard, 36-31-67; M-Gwen Flusche, Sr., MIT, 36-20-56, 101 DC; M-Caroline Sanders, Sr., Smith, 41-25-66, 92 DC; M-Izzy Lalancette, Jr., Springfield, 35-7-42; M-Adelaide Baird, So., Salve Regina, 19 CT; D-Claire Jones, Sr., Babson, 15 CT; D-Kelsey Dwyer, So., MIT, 7 CT; D-Ella Campbell, So., Coast Guard, 59 DC, 17 CT; D-Rowan Walsh, Sr., Coast Guard, 30 CT; GK-Pauline Vien, Jr., MIT, 52.8%

Preseason Favorite: MIT
Player of the Year: Ashley Thomas, Sr., A, MIT

Part 9 in our series looking back at the history of NCAA Division III lacrosse. Today, we with past women’s conference champions.with past women’s conference champions.

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