INDIANAPOLIS – NCAA Championships semifinalist Seton Hill was tabbed the unanimous favorite in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour.
The Griffins were back-to-back conference champions since joining the Great Midwest as an associate member in 2017.
Under head coach Brian Novotny and his staff, SHU pieced together a season to remember in 2018 with a 17-2 overall record and an undefeated run through the conference schedule at 7-0.
As a result, the Griffins received all possible six first-place votes (since teams cannot vote for themselves) with 36 points. Seton Hill is ranked No. 3 in the nation by the USILA Coaches Poll to start 2019.
The Griffins stormed into the semifinal round of the national tournament last year, representing the North Region and beat LeMoyne in the opening round before playing Merrimack for the chance to get to the title game.
Mercyhurst, ranked No. 13 in the USILA Coaches Poll, starts the season as the preseason runner-up in the league. The Lakers are another associate member with the Great Midwest and played for the conference title last year with a record of 11-5.
Mercyhurst received one first-place vote in the balloting for a total of 31 points.
The third team ranked in the USILA Coaches Poll is No. 19 Lake Erie, also picked third in the Great Midwest. The Storm are starting a new coaching era with the addition of Sam Ashton after finishing the regular-season standings in second last year.
Wheeling Jesuit will have some key personnel to replace as the Cardinals prepare for their second year as a conference associate member. WJU was able to qualify for the postseason in its first try and finished 4-3 in the tough conference schedule.
Walsh, Alderson Broaddus and Davis & Elkins, will attempt to make the playoffs this year. AB and Walsh each finished with a pair of conference victories in 2018.
This will be the third season the Great Midwest has sponsored the sport of men’s lacrosse. Four teams advance to the postseason for a spot in the conference championship bracket.
Great Midwest Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
| School |
Points |
| 1. Seton Hill (6 first-place votes) |
36 |
| 2. Mercyhurst (1 first-place vote) |
31 |
| 3. Lake Erie |
26 |
| 4. Wheeling Jesuit |
19 |
| 5. Walsh |
17 |
| 6. Alderson Broaddus |
11 |
| 7. Davis & Elkins |
7 |