USALAX Way-Early 2026 Division I Men's Rankings:

[JeremyCuse]

3. Syracuse​

• 2025: 13-6, NCAA Semifinalist
• Biggest Losses: Owen Hiltz, Sam English, Carter Rice
• Biggest returners: Joey Spallina, Michael Leo, Riley Figueiras, Billy Dwan III, John Mullen, Jimmy McCool, Luke Rhoa, Finn Thomson, Trey Deere, Payton Anderson
• Top Incoming Freshmen: Bogue Hahn (McDonogh, Md.), Joe Filardi (Half Hollow Hills, N.Y.), Jayden Kittleberger (Salisbury, Conn.)
• Portal: Dante Bowen, Ohio State

This could be the season you’ve been waiting for, Orange fans.

The class that was supposed to turn around Syracuse lacrosse — the one that got it back to Championships Weekend for the first time since 2013 — enters its senior year. From missing the NCAA Tournament to losing in the Quarterfinals to losing in the Semifinals, the only step left is winning on Championship Weekend.

Joey Spallina, Michael Leo, Luke Rhoa, Finn Thomson, Payton Anderson will need some help to make up for the departures of Owen Hiltz and Sam English. They’ll have the ball a lot with John Mullen, plus Billy Dwan III and Riley Figueiras will get stops.

There are questions, though: Did they improve as much as some of their ACC foes? Can they avoid the lapses (like the first half vs. Maryland in the semis) that seem to plague them?


No fanbase demands more, so the spotlight is even brighter.

 

[Hawknate144]

I personally think we are better than Princeton, just because they really have not looked good defensively and I'm not sure that's improving, that said I can see the reason why you would rank them higher

 

[DoctahLexus]

SSDM is still the one true question mark. It could make or break this season. Lots of other teams with question marks too, but it is a seriously crucial position. These scrimmages could be a wakeup call in that department with Princeton out for revenge and Army doing what they do against Cuse. One guy stepping up there as a serious challenge beat of the dodge could go a looong way. He had a rough time in the playoffs seeing a lot of extended minutes for the first time, but I think we could see a leap from Ryder Ochoa. He has the speed and strength needed to be quality at the position and it is still early in his career. Bowen and Kittelberger will be a boost, but is there an option on the level of Carter Rice who can keep up with the top speedsters? Would also like to see McCarthy leaning more towards SSDM this season.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

SSDM is still the one true question mark. It could make or break this season. Lots of other teams with question marks too, but it is a seriously crucial position. These scrimmages could be a wakeup call in that department with Princeton out for revenge and Army doing what they do against Cuse. One guy stepping up there as a serious challenge beat of the dodge could go a looong way. He had a rough time in the playoffs seeing a lot of extended minutes for the first time, but I think we could see a leap from Ryder Ochoa. He has the speed and strength needed to be quality at the position and it is still early in his career. Bowen and Kittelberger will be a boost, but is there an option on the level of Carter Rice who can keep up with the top speedsters? Would also like to see McCarthy leaning more towards SSDM this season.

I don't think the scrimmages will show much one way or another. The past two years we have split the roster into two mixed up teams.

 

[Zack80]

Notre Dame and Princeton are 2 of their favorites at Inside Lacrosse. So it is not surprising that they would have Princeton at #2 and ND as high as #6.

I have noticed 2 errors in the losses:
Luke Walstrum is on PSU's rostser
Will Angrick is on ND's roster.

 

[Zack80]

I am pretty much the same as I was back in July, but I have pushed OSU up to #10 for getting Alex Marinier back. OSU also added some decent transfers on the offense, but still looks a bit thin on offense.

1) Maryland - have lost some good players but the transfers seem like a big plus
2) Syracuse - what I particularly like about Syracuse is the large body of players becoming seniors this coming year.
3) Princeton
4) Cornell
5) Penn State - added some nice midfield transfers - Robertson, Watters, and Considine.
6) UNC - could get really competitive if a couple of their 5 star midfield recruits can contribute.
7) Richmond
8) UVa - Returns their full attack, adds top recruit Brendan Millon.
9) Georgetown
10) Ohio State - pushed OSU up to #10 for getting Alex Marinier back for a the year.
11) Duke
12) Notre Dame

 

[nyclax]

final four contenders: maryland, syracuse, princeton, psu, gtown

can get there if things break right: cornell, duke, nd

lots of talent but breschi is their coach: unc

playoff teams: osu, richmond, army

likely bounceback into the tournament: uva, hop

not going anywhere without a faceoff guy: harvard

maybe decent but more likely to be irrelevant again: penn, yale, mich

sucks: rutgers

 

[DoctahLexus]

I am pretty much the same as I was back in July, but I have pushed OSU up to #10 for getting Alex Marinier back. OSU also added some decent transfers on the offense, but still looks a bit thin on offense.

1) Maryland - have lost some good players but the transfers seem like a big plus
2) Syracuse - what I particularly like about Syracuse is the large body of players becoming seniors this coming year.
3) Princeton
4) Cornell
5) Penn State - added some nice midfield transfers - Robertson, Watters, and Considine.
6) UNC - could get really competitive if a couple of their 5 star midfield recruits can contribute.
7) Richmond
8) UVa - Returns their full attack, adds top recruit Brendan Millon.
9) Georgetown
10) Ohio State - pushed OSU up to #10 for getting Alex Marinier back for a the year.
11) Duke
12) Notre Dame

My main disagreement here would be GTown. The Connor brothers are legit and their insane production did not taper off much at all when they went up against better competition, especially later in the season. Defense was quality and I like a lot of their depth at middie, most of which will be seniors next year. They would be in my top 5, despite their quarterfinal curse.

 

[Powellfan]

 

[nocohalo]

final four contenders: maryland, syracuse, princeton, psu, gtown

can get there if things break right: cornell, duke, nd

lots of talent but breschi is their coach: unc

playoff teams: osu, richmond, army

likely bounceback into the tournament: uva, hop

not going anywhere without a faceoff guy: harvard

maybe decent but more likely to be irrelevant again: penn, yale, mich

sucks: rutgers

Also sucks: Hobart

 

[Zack80]

My main disagreement here would be GTown. The Connor brothers are legit and their insane production did not taper off much at all when they went up against better competition, especially later in the season. Defense was quality and I like a lot of their depth at middie, most of which will be seniors next year. They would be in my top 5, despite their quarterfinal curse.

That being said Colgate did play a running game that did enhance the Connor brother's numbers. So they might end up being more of just a replacement for Carroll and Bayman given Georgetown's slower style and not much of an upgrade. Still if they are able only to replace Carroll and Bayman that would still be a plus for Georgetown.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Don't see a logical place to put this unless there's a lax media thread. Doesn't seem worth creating a new thread for it. Some may have followed his posts and weekly college lacrosse shows. He wrote a nice last article on LCD in the 2nd tweet. I thought his weekly college shows with Dan Arestia were the best I'd seen. And he's become a pretty good analyst on the OJLL broadcasts he did.

 

[Powellfan]

 

[DoctahLexus]

His most impressive feat last year was having a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio (54:18). I tried looking around and the only example I can find of a player with a significant amount of assists having that ratio is Grant Ament in 2019 with that historically good Penn State offense. Any other big name you can think of in the last 10 years has not done it. It is insanely rare.

 

[Zack80]

James Hogan's early top 20 on TLN

 

[Powellfan]

Well this is something. Melendez is clearly talented, but has had a really hard time staying healthy. Hopkins really fell apart once he was lost for the season last year. Where does he end up?

 

[nyclax]

Well this is something. Melendez is clearly talented, but has had a really hard time staying healthy. Hopkins really fell apart once he was lost for the season last year. Where does he end up?

sending feelers out now but i would keep an eye on duke after they lost mcadorey and malever and then didnt do a whole lot in the portal besides bring in kyle colsey (who is a lefty)..

maybe georgetown, richmond, towson, nova...

 

[Zack80]

Well this is something. Melendez is clearly talented, but has had a really hard time staying healthy. Hopkins really fell apart once he was lost for the season last year. Where does he end up?

Ohio State? Towson?

 

[Hawknate144]

he once said his lifelong dream was to play for Loyola, mind you that was in 2018 and Loyola was quite a bit more attractive back then, but who knows.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Well this is something. Melendez is clearly talented, but has had a really hard time staying healthy. Hopkins really fell apart once he was lost for the season last year. Where does he end up?

Good player, just can't stay healthy at all. Think he's had one non injury season in his career.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Well this is something. Melendez is clearly talented, but has had a really hard time staying healthy. Hopkins really fell apart once he was lost for the season last year. Where does he end up?

Would not say no to seeing him in orange, if he’s willing to come out of the box. He was pretty darn elite in 2023 but has been roughing it through injuries since. Still a smart player with a great shot even if he has way less burst now.

 

[Powellfan]

sending feelers out now but i would keep an eye on duke after they lost mcadorey and malever and then didnt do a whole lot in the portal besides bring in kyle colsey (who is a lefty)..

maybe georgetown, richmond, towson, nova...

Was wondering about UNC ... they still don't really have a third guy for Dom and Duffy. Ohio State like, Zach pointed out seems like a good guess as well, given all they lost and how much they like to take on transfers.

Seems like a really difficult player to project. One year rental and he will have missed Fall Ball and has huge injury concerns. Would an ACC or Big 10 team take a gamble?

From a Syracuse perspective it's intriguing. You'd allow Thomson to play midfield with Rhoa and Leo/Anderson which would be pretty fearsome. I have longed for a true right-handed dodger at attack to help Spallina for years. But at the same time, I think Thomson has been penciled in to play attack and he's probably been preparing there all of Fall Ball. How do you tell a senior who has started all three years so far he's getting bumped? I can't see Melendez coming out of the box with all his injuries. I guess something to keep an eye on.

 

[Lax Mouse]

The timing is tough. How many grad programs can he apply to at this time of the year and be admitted/enrolled by spring? I'm sure there are some, and schools admissions rules may be bent a bit for athletes these days, but could be tricky.

 

[nyclax]

Was wondering about UNC ... they still don't really have a third guy for Dom and Duffy. Ohio State like, Zach pointed out seems like a good guess as well, given all they lost and how much they like to take on transfers.

Seems like a really difficult player to project. One year rental and he will have missed Fall Ball and has huge injury concerns. Would an ACC or Big 10 team take a gamble?

From a Syracuse perspective it's intriguing. You'd allow Thomson to play midfield with Rhoa and Leo/Anderson which would be pretty fearsome. I have longed for a true right-handed dodger at attack to help Spallina for years. But at the same time, I think Thomson has been penciled in to play attack and he's probably been preparing there all of Fall Ball. How do you tell a senior who has started all three years so far he's getting bumped? I can't see Melendez coming out of the box with all his injuries. I guess something to keep an eye on.

maybe unc but petro didnt recruit melendez coming out of high school even though his dream was to play at hopkins, maybe there are still some hard feelings there but im just guessing

i would say loyola because his mom went there but p sure they dont accept grad transfers...

i dont think you will see him in orange.

 

[CuseAlum87]

maybe unc but petro didnt recruit melendez coming out of high school even though his dream was to play at hopkins, maybe there are still some hard feelings there but im just guessing

i would say loyola because his mom went there but p sure they dont accept grad transfers...

i dont think you will see him in orange.

Yep, Patriot league is out of play because of their no grad transfer rule. I would guess Georgetown but the timing is difficult.