Since winning its first NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse championship in 1994 — ending the Hobart dynasty — Salisbury has not gone more than three years without a national title.

The Sea Gulls kept that streak intact, notching their 11th NCAA championship with a 14-13 win over Tufts last May in Philadelphia. With more than a handful of returners, there’s a good chance they will make it 12 in 2017.

Led by Nate Blondino and Carson Kalama on offense, Andrew Ternahan at long pole and Kyle Tucker on defense, Salisbury is ranked No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Preseason Top 20.

Ithaca, the darling of the 2016 season and the nation’s top-scoring team, enters at No. 2.

Tufts (breaking in new coach Casey D'Annolfo),  RIT and St. Lawrence (another Cinderella story last year), round out the Top 5.

Scroll down to see the complete Top 20 or click here for a more comprehensive listing.

Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men
Preseason Top 20

1. Salisbury
2. Ithaca
3. Tufts
4. RIT
5. St. Lawrence
6. Cabrini
7. York
8. Bowdoin
9. Denison
10. RPI
11. Gettysburg
12. Ohio Wesleyan
13. Cortland
14. Amherst
15. Stevenson
16. Washington and Lee
17. Western New England
18. Bates
19. Wesleyan
20. Dickinson