COLONIA, N.J. – Defending champion Molloy University was the pick to repeat as East Coast Conference Champions, according to the 2026 ECC Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Monday morning.
The Lions received 47 points and six of the seven first-vote votes in a poll conducted by the head coaches in the ECC.
Mercy University was picked second with 41 points, while Roberts Wesleyan University was third with 33 points and one first-place vote.
In addition to being the top pick in the poll, Molloy secured both Preseason Players of the Year as Brian Green was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Thomas Kofod was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Molloy, who opens the season on Saturday, February 14 at Southern New Hampshire, went 16-5 last season with a 5-1 mark in the ECC. Their only loss in ECC play was a 13-12 overtime defeat at the hands of Mercy. The Lions won the ECC title game by defeating then top-seed Mercy 11-10 in overtime on May 3. The Lions advanced to the second-round of the NCAA tournament before falling to top-ranked Adelphi 21-7. The Lions are ranked ninth in Division II in a preseason poll conducted by USA Lacrosse Magazine.
Green, a senior midfielder, was a first-team All-ECC pick last season while being named a second-team All-American by the USILA. He led the team with 69 points (43g, 26a) with 17 ground balls and four caused turnovers. Of Molloy’s 16 wins, he had the game-winning goal in five of those contests.
Kofod, a senior long stick midfielder, was an All-ECC second-team pick last season on his way to being named an Honorable Mention All-American. He totaled 78 ground balls with 38 caused turnovers. He had a career-high six caused turnovers and nine ground balls in a contest at Post.
Mercy, who is ranked 12
th in that same USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Poll, returns five ECC All-Conference selections from a year ago. Junior Jake Norton returns after being named First Team All-ECC and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American Honorable Mention last year. Norton ended last year with 35 ground balls, six caused turnovers and six assists. Also returning is graduate student Aidan Babnik who was named Second Team All-ECC last year after recording 26 goals and 10 assists. The Mavericks open play on Saturday, February 14 at Assumption.
Frostburg State University is fourth in the poll with 32 points, while D’Youville University was fifth with 22 points. St. Thomas Aquinas College (sixth, 13 points) and The University of the District of Columbia (seventh, 8 points) round out the poll.
Action starts on Sunday, February 1, as D’Youville University travels to Davis & Elkins College. Conference play is slated to begin on Saturday, March 14 with three games, as Roberts Wesleyan takes on Molloy, Mercy heads to Frostburg State and D’Youville invades District of Columbia.
The 2026 ECC Championship – featuring the top four teams – is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 29 with the top two seeds hosting semifinal play. The ECC Championship is slated for Saturday, May 2, at the highest remaining seed.
2026 East Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Molloy University - 47 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Mercy University – 41 points
3. Roberts Wesleyan University – 33 points (1 first-place vote)
4. Frostburg State University – 32 points
5. D’Youville University – 22 points
6. St. Thomas Aquinas College – 13 points
7. University of the District of Columbia – 8 points
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Brian Green, Molloy
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Kofod, Molloy