The Wesleyan men's lacrosse team heads into the 2026 season with high expectations and the resume to back it up. The Cardinals open the year ranked #7 in the Inside Lacrosse Division III preseason poll, #8 in the USILA rankings, and #10 in the USA Lacrosse Top 20 — firmly positioned among the national contenders at the start of the year.

Senior midfielder Will Miller '26 and short-stick defensive midfielder Charlie Wilmot '26 earned USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America Second Team honors, while senior midfielder James Bailey ;26 and senior attackman Ben Burns '26 were named Third Team selections.

The Cardinals also return a strong core from last year's NESCAC runner-up squad. Senior goaltender Conor Selfridge '26 anchors the defense after a standout season in the cage, while long stick midfielders Joe Hurton '27 and Scott Cunningham '27 bring toughness, range, and transition ability to the middle of the field. Offensively, experienced firepower returns in Gavin Lechner '27, Charlie Knapp '26, Matt Morrow '27, and Nolan Sampson '27 — all impact players who played key roles in Wesleyan's postseason run.

The Cardinals will be tested immediately. The schedule features six opponents ranked in the preseason Top 20, including perennial powers throughout the NESCAC and beyond. 

What separates this team goes beyond rankings. Wesleyan posted a 3.71 team GPA in the fall semester, continuing its tradition of academic excellence while competing at the highest level nationally. 

With proven All-Americans, experienced leadership, depth across the field, and one of the toughest schedules in Division III, Wesleyan enters 2026 focused, battle-tested, and poised to make another championship run.