Defending Champ RIT Tops Nike/USA Lacrosse D-III Men's Preseason Top 20

RIT, the defending national champion, is No. 1 in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Preseason Top 20, USA Lacrosse Magazine announced Thursday.

RIT is once again loaded with talent. Luke Pilcher is back to lead the offense and could be poised for a 100-point season, and Mike Grace could be the best defender in the nation.

Knocking the Tigers off the top spot will not be easy. 

But a few teams are, at least on paper, poised to give RIT a run. No. 2 Christopher Newport has plenty of returning firepower, led by Coby Auslander, and a top defense anchored by Ryan Young and Zac Hanway.

Bowdoin, No. 3 in the Preseason Top 20, boasts the top faceoff specialist in the nation in Ethan Barnard, who should tilt the field in each matchup.

Union, the national runner-up a year ago, is No. 4, and Tufts, the perennial offensive juggernaut, is No. 5.

Continue below to see the full Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Preseason Top 20.

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION III MEN’S PRESEASON TOP 20

1. RIT
2. Christopher Newport
3. Bowdoin
4. Union
5. Tufts
6. Salisbury
7. York
8. Lynchburg
9. Wesleyan
10. Gettysburg
11. St. John Fisher
12. Amherst
13. Dickinson
14. Hampden-Sydney
15. Cabrini
16. Stevenson
17. Washington and Lee
18. Franklin & Marshall
19. Roanoke
20. Denison

Also considered (alphabetical order): Hamilton, Ithaca, MIT, Ursinus, Western New England

Dan Arestia and Kyle Devitte contributed to these rankings.