WINTHROP, Mass. – Emmanuel and Lasell enter the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Lacrosse season as the preseason favorites to win their divisions according to the results of the Preseason Coaches' Polls that were conducted last week.
The Saints and Lasers both received 90 points in their respective polls and each received nine first place votes cast by the league's 14 head coaches.
Last season, Emmanuel returned to the top of the conference after last claiming the league title in 2016. It went 9-1 in GNAC (16-6 overall) play, earning the No. 1 seed in the GNAC Championship Tournament. The Saints would then defeat Norwich, Dean, and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) en route to the title. As the conference's automatic qualifier into 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship, EC picked up a first round victory over Maine Maritime before succumbing to Tufts in the second round.
The Lasers also had a strong regular season in 2023, finishing in a tie for second place with an 8-2 GNAC (11-7 overall) record and earning the No. 2 seed via the league's tiebreaking procedure. However, a 10-9 overtime loss to the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) put an end to their tournament run early.
That USJ team made a trip all the way to the 2023 GNAC Championship and checks in at the No. 2 spot in the South Division Poll with 83 points and four first place votes. Ranking third right behind the Blue Jays was Dean with 70 points and the final first place vote in the South Division.
Closing out the poll were Johnson & Wales (65 points), Albertus Magnus (37), Elms (29), and Mitchell (18).
In the North Division, Rivier was the only other team to receive first place votes as they earned the remaining five, giving it an 85-point total. Checking next was Saint Joseph's (Maine) with 66 points followed closely behind by Norwich at 65. Rounding out the voting on the north side was New England College (33 points), Anna Maria (28), and Regis in that order.
The first faceoff of the GNAC Men's Lacrosse season is on Saturday, Feb. 17 as teams open their non-conference schedules. The first conference matchup takes place on Saturday, Feb. 24 with a matchup between Norwich and Mitchell with the first full conference date scheduled for Wednesday, March 13. The conference schedule features 10 contests for each team. Each team will play every opponent in their division once, plus four opponents from the other division.
The top four teams in each division at the end of the regular season will qualify the 2024 GNAC Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament, which will begin with the GNAC Quarterfinals on Saturday, April 27. The advancing teams will compete in the GNAC Semifinals on Wednesday, May 1 with the hopes of moving onto GNAC Championship on Saturday, May 4. The winner of the GNAC Championship game will be named the conference champion and earn the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship.
2024 GNAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Polls
| NORTH DIVISION | ||
| 1. | Emmanuel | 90 (9 First Place) |
| 2. | Rivier | 85 (5) |
| 3. | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 66 |
| 4. | Norwich | 65 |
| 5. | New England College | 33 |
| 6. | Anna Maria | 28 |
| 7. | Regis | 25 |
| SOUTH DIVISION | ||
| 1. | Lasell | 90 (9 First Place) |
| 2. | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 83 |
| 3. | Dean | 70 |
| 4. | Johnson & Wales | 65 |
| 5. | Albertus Magnus | 37 |
| 6. | Elms | 29 |
| 7. | Mitchell | 18 |
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.
