Eastern Michigan Athletics
Lacrosse Tabbed Second in MAC Preseason Poll
2/4/2026 3:00:00 PM | Lacrosse
Eastern is coming off a share of the MAC regular season crown in 2025
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Mid-American Conference Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll was announced today, Feb. 4, with Eastern Michigan University tying for second place in the voting with the University of Akron. The poll, which was compiled by a vote of the conference's eight head coaches, selected league newcomer University of Massachusetts to win the crown with the Eagles and Zips behind them.
Coming off a 2025 season in which the Eagles claimed a share of their first league title by splitting the regular-season crown with both Akron and Robert Morris University, Eastern will look to continue its climb toward a postseason title and its first berth into the NCAA Tournament in May.
UMass, who captured the title in the Atlantic 10 Conference last year with a 10-0 league record before falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Princeton, earned six first-place votes and 48 points to take the top spot with Eastern, who earned one first-place vote, and Akron tied for second with 37 points. Robert Morris, the 2025 MAC Tournament Champion, earned one first-place vote and secured 34 points for fourth place while Central Michigan University was fifth with 28 points. The remaining votes saw Kent State University in sixth place (19 votes), Youngstown State University in seventh (12), and the University of Detroit Mercy in eighth (nine).
The coaches also voted on who would win the postseason tournament crown, which will be decided April 30 and May 2 in Moon Township, Pa., with UMass earning six votes and both EMU and RMU garnering one.
Historically, the tie for second in the voting marks the highest preseason ranking the Eagles have earned in its four years. The 2026 ranking improved upon the third-place vote received in 2025 with EMU ranking fourth in 2024 and sixth in 2023.
The Eagles are set to open their 2026 season later this week with a pair of games, starting with the season-opener Friday, Feb. 6, at Marquette University, before playing host to Butler University Sunday, Feb. 8. The Eagles and Golden Eagles lift the lid on the season with a 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) contest inside Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis., with the game being streamed live on ESPN+. The weekend closes Sunday with EMU's home opener with the Bulldogs at 1 p.m. inside the Indoor Practice Facility.
2026 MAC Lacrosse Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. UMass (6) - 48
2. Eastern Michigan (1) - 37
2. Akron - 37
4. Robert Morris (1) - 34
5. Central Michigan - 28
6. Kent State - 19
7. Youngstown State - 12
8. Detroit Mercy - 9
Predicted Tournament Champion: UMass (6), Eastern Michigan (1), Robert Morris (1)
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For updates on EMU Lacrosse, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, @EMU_Lacrosse, and X, @EMU_Lacrosse.
Coming off a 2025 season in which the Eagles claimed a share of their first league title by splitting the regular-season crown with both Akron and Robert Morris University, Eastern will look to continue its climb toward a postseason title and its first berth into the NCAA Tournament in May.
UMass, who captured the title in the Atlantic 10 Conference last year with a 10-0 league record before falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Princeton, earned six first-place votes and 48 points to take the top spot with Eastern, who earned one first-place vote, and Akron tied for second with 37 points. Robert Morris, the 2025 MAC Tournament Champion, earned one first-place vote and secured 34 points for fourth place while Central Michigan University was fifth with 28 points. The remaining votes saw Kent State University in sixth place (19 votes), Youngstown State University in seventh (12), and the University of Detroit Mercy in eighth (nine).
The coaches also voted on who would win the postseason tournament crown, which will be decided April 30 and May 2 in Moon Township, Pa., with UMass earning six votes and both EMU and RMU garnering one.
Historically, the tie for second in the voting marks the highest preseason ranking the Eagles have earned in its four years. The 2026 ranking improved upon the third-place vote received in 2025 with EMU ranking fourth in 2024 and sixth in 2023.
The Eagles are set to open their 2026 season later this week with a pair of games, starting with the season-opener Friday, Feb. 6, at Marquette University, before playing host to Butler University Sunday, Feb. 8. The Eagles and Golden Eagles lift the lid on the season with a 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) contest inside Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis., with the game being streamed live on ESPN+. The weekend closes Sunday with EMU's home opener with the Bulldogs at 1 p.m. inside the Indoor Practice Facility.
2026 MAC Lacrosse Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. UMass (6) - 48
2. Eastern Michigan (1) - 37
2. Akron - 37
4. Robert Morris (1) - 34
5. Central Michigan - 28
6. Kent State - 19
7. Youngstown State - 12
8. Detroit Mercy - 9
Predicted Tournament Champion: UMass (6), Eastern Michigan (1), Robert Morris (1)
Follow Us
For updates on EMU Lacrosse, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, @EMU_Lacrosse, and X, @EMU_Lacrosse.
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