William Penn Picked to Lead 2026 Heart Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll

2026 Heart Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll

William Penn – 97 (8 First-Place Votes)
Benedictine – 88 (1 First-Place Vote)
St. Ambrose – 77 (1 First-Place Vote)
Missouri Baptist – 69
Columbia – 60
William Woods – 59
Clarke – 38
Midland – 31
Ottawa – 17
Missouri Valley – 14

Statesmen Set the Standard After Championship Run

William Penn is coming off a historic 2025 season, finishing a perfect 9–0 in Heart regular season play to secure the conference title. The Statesmen carried that momentum into the postseason, earning the No. 1 seed in the Heart Men's Lacrosse Championship and capturing their second-straight conference tournament crown.

After receiving a bye to the semifinals, William Penn defeated Benedictine 20–6 before closing out the championship with an 11–4 victory over St. Ambrose in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Statesmen finished the season 12–3 overall and represented the Heart as the conference's automatic qualifier in the 2025 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Tournament.

Heart Men's Lacrosse Positioned for Competitive 2026 Season

The Heart of America Athletic Conference continues to build depth and competitiveness in men's lacrosse, with multiple programs earning first-place votes in the preseason poll. Benedictine and St. Ambrose, both 2025 semifinalists, headline a strong group of contenders, while Missouri Baptist, Columbia, and William Woods add proven postseason experience to the mix.

With the return of defending champion William Penn and a conference slate filled with battle-tested programs, the 2026 Heart men's lacrosse season is shaping up to deliver another tightly contested race and high-level competition from start to finish.