WINTHROP, Mass. – Rivier and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) were tabbed as the preseason favorites in their respective divisions (North/South) for the upcoming 2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men’s Lacrosse season according to the results of the Preseason Poll, which were conducted last week by the league’s 13 head coaches.

The Raiders (North) received 11 first-place votes and the Blue Jays (South) collected 12 first-place votes in this year’s preseason poll as both were selected to finish atop their divisions. 

Rivier finished at the top of the North division last season, compiling a 5-1 divisional record and 8-2 conference record which their head-to-head match up against Norwich sealed the top spot in the division. The Raiders defeated Johnson & Wales in postseason play before a semifinals exit to Dean ended their season. They come in this year with 85 points, which is the most across the entire conference.

Norwich looks to regain their spot at the top of the conference as they come in this year predicted to finish second in the North with 70 points. The Cadets finished second in the North at 5-1 and 8-2 overall before an early exit to Lasell in quarterfinals play. 

At the third spot is Saint Joseph’s (Maine), who received 66 points (one first-place vote), as they look to make their first conference championship appearance in the program’s history.

2023 GNAC Champion Emmanuel was picked to finish fourth with 62 points (one first-place vote) as the Saints look to bounce back after an early exit in a close quarter finals loss to reigning champion USJ.

New England College (39), Regis (24), and Anna Maria (18) closed out the North Division Poll in that order. 

The 2024 conference champion Blue Jays look ro repeat as they earned 77 points in this year’s poll. USJ finished at 9-1 in conference play and 5-1 divisional record in the South. The Blue Jays did not have an easy path as they defeated Emmanuel, Lasell, and Dean all by one goal in each round to clinch an NCAA tournament berth where they defeated SUNY Poly in the first round 13-2 before falling to nationally top-ranked Salisbury in the second round. 

Following in second with a first-place vote is Lasell, who earned 56 points. The Lasers look to bounce back into the title game and earn their first GNAC title since the 2021 season after a semifinals exit to USJ. 

Last year’s runner-up Dean (55) looks to avenge their championship loss to the Blue Jays as they come in third in the South. 

JWU (44), Albertus Magnus (27), and Mitchell (14) round out the remainder of the South Division in that order. 

The first faceoff of the GNAC Men’s Lacrosse season is tomorrow, Feb. 15 as USJ opens non-conference play. The first conference matchup takes place on Saturday, Feb. 28 with a matchup between Saint Joseph’s (Maine) and Regis. 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 2025 GNAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament, which will begin with the GNAC Quarterfinals on Saturday, April 26. The advancing teams will compete in the GNAC Semifinals on Tuesday, April 29 with the hopes of moving onto GNAC Championship on Saturday, May 3. The winner of the GNAC Championship game will be named the conference champion and earn the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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