MLAX: Norwich Nearly Unanimous Atop 2023 GNAC Preseason Poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINTHROP, Mass. – Winners of two of the last four league titles over a five-year span with COVID factored in, Norwich University has received 10 of an 11 possible first-place votes for 119 points to top the 2023 GNAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll, as voted upon by the league's head coaches. 

The Cadets led the way with 119 points in the rankings, as 13th-year head coach and three-time GNAC Coach of the Year Neal Anderson and his program program begin the 2023 campaign on Wednesday, March 1 at home against Plymouth State. 

NU captured the 2022 GNAC Men's Lacrosse Championship with an 11-8 victory over GNAC rival Lasell University before hosting and defeating Maine Maritime, 20-12, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Rivier University, which fell to Lasell in last spring's GNAC Semifinals, finished as runner-up in the poll with one first-place tally and 104 points overall, narrowly ahead of the aforementioned Lasers, which took the third spot with 97 points. 

Dean College (79 points) and Emmanuel College (70) rounded out the top-five. For the complete poll results, please see below.

COMING MONDAY: GNAC BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, WLAX PRESEASON POLLS

2023 GNAC MLAX Preseason Poll
1. Norwich (10) - 119
2. Rivier (1) - 104
3. Lasell - 97
4. Dean - 79
5. Emmanuel - 70
6. Saint Joseph's Maine - 67
7. JWU - 61
8. USJ CT - 56
9. Anna Maria - 37
10. Albertus Magnus - 19
11. Regis - 17 

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –