The Salisbury University men’s lacrosse team starts the year as the top team in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division III Men's Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Sea Gulls received 354 points and three first-place votes in the poll, which was released Tuesday. Salisbury was ranked No. 2 in the 2020 Nike/USL Division III Men's Preseason Top 20 Poll, which was released in December.
Amherst College landed in the second spot after grabbing 337 points and two first-place votes. Cabrini University, the reigning national champ, was placed in third despite garnering nine first-place votes.
Williams College landed in fourth with six first-place votes and 329 points. Rochester Institute of Technology and Tufts University finished in a tie for fifth in the rankings with 280 points.
Salisbury was one of two Capital Athletic Conference teams named in the poll. York College secured the seventh spot in the poll with 261 points.
Last season marked the 30th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament for the maroon and gold, but the path to the big dance will be difficult in 2020.
Salisbury will face five teams in the top 20 of the poll during the non-conference portion of its schedule. The Sea Gulls cap off their non-conference portion with a rematch against Cabrini, which defeated Salisbury in the 2019 NCAA Semifinal.
The season begins for Salisbury on Sunday when it travels to Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C. to face Berry College. Salisbury will host No. 16 the University of Lynchburg in its home opener on Feb. 8 at 1 p.m.
By NICK LEWIS
Sports editor
Featured photo: Marshall Haas image.