WLAX: Emmanuel Selected To Repeat in 2026 Preseason Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – Reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Champion Emmanuel College looks to repeat this season as they were tabbed the favorites in this season’s Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll, as voted by the league’s 14 head coaches. The Saints led the way with 190 points and 10 first-place votes in a competitive spot at the top with Norwich University trailing at #2 with 179 points and two first-place votes.
Saint Joseph's (Maine) is expected to be in contention for the title as the Monks take the third slot at 167 points while Colby-Sawyer will also look to be in contention for the league’s cup as the Chargers are in fourth this year with 147 followed by Lasell, who is also on their quest to make some noise in May at 122 points.
Simmons is in the sixth slot this year with 110 (one first-place vote), followed by Rivier (107) and Regis (105; one first-place vote), who round out the seventh and eighth spot while looking to make deep postseason runs.
Dean (103), New England College (77), University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (73), Elms (48), Mitchell (25), and Albertus Magnus (17) rounded out the final 9-14 spots in the poll this year in order and will look to show grittiness in a competitive group.
The first faceoff of the GNAC Women’s Lacrosse season is Tuesday, Feb. 17 with Simmons opening up non-conference play against Emerson as conference play opens up nearly a week later with the Sharks facing off against Lasell on February 23rd. The conference schedule will feature a round-robin format with each team playing each other once in a total of 13 games for each. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will qualify the 2026 GNAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament, which will begin with the GNAC Quarterfinals on Saturday, April 25. The advancing teams will compete in the GNAC Semifinals on Tuesday, April 28 with the hopes of moving onto GNAC Championship on Saturday, May 2. The winner of the GNAC Championship game will be named the conference champion and earn the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
WLAX Preseason Poll Results
| 1) | Emmanuel | 190 (10) |
| 2) | Norwich | 179 (2) |
| 3) | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 167 |
| 4) | Colby-Sawyer | 147 |
| 5) | Lasell | 122 |
| 6) | Simmons | 110 (1) |
| 7) | Rivier | 107 |
| 8) | Regis | 105 (1) |
| 9) | Dean | 103 |
| 10) | New England College | 77 |
| 11) | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 73 |
| 12) | Elms | 48 |
| 13) | Mitchell | 25 |
| 14) | Albertus Magnus | 17 |
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 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.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)!
'Follow' us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and 'Like' us on Facebook!
-#TheGNAC-