Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Camryn Ley
Princeton Voted Preseason Ivy League Favorite
February 05, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
The Princeton men's lacrosse team has been named the preseason favorite in the Ivy League by a vote of media members.Â
Princeton received 12 of 14 first-place votes and 96 points total, 11 points ahead of Cornell. The defending NCAA champion Big Red also received the other two first-place votes. Harvard was third in the poll, followed by Yale, Dartmouth, Penn and Brown.Â
The Tigers enter the 2026 season ranked either second or third nationally in each major preseason poll. Princeton went 13-4 a year ago and reached the NCAA quarterfinals.Â
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Among the returnees for Princeton are preseason first-team All-American midfielder Chad Palumbo and preseason second-team All-American shortstick defensive midfielder Cooper Mueller. The Tigers also have returning starters Nate Kabiri and Colin Burns on attack, where they will be joined by Peter Buonanno, last year's unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the year as a middie who now moves to attack. Tucker Wade enters his junior year as a preseason third-team All-American.
Ryan Croddick, the Ivy League Goalie of the Year last, is back for his senior year. The Tigers do have to replace attackman Coulter Mackesy, who graduated as Princeton's career leader in goals with 157 and a first-team All-American and Tewaaraton Award finalist last season, as well as starting defensemen Colin Mulshine and Michael Bath.Â
Princeton opens the 2026 season at home against Penn State Feb. 14.Â
2026 IVYÂ LEAGUEÂ MEN'SÂ LACROSSEÂ PRESEASONÂ POLL
Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)
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Princeton received 12 of 14 first-place votes and 96 points total, 11 points ahead of Cornell. The defending NCAA champion Big Red also received the other two first-place votes. Harvard was third in the poll, followed by Yale, Dartmouth, Penn and Brown.Â
The Tigers enter the 2026 season ranked either second or third nationally in each major preseason poll. Princeton went 13-4 a year ago and reached the NCAA quarterfinals.Â
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PALUMBO TO BURNS OOOO WEEEE pic.twitter.com/yusViKFqi6
— Princeton Men's Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) May 10, 2025
Among the returnees for Princeton are preseason first-team All-American midfielder Chad Palumbo and preseason second-team All-American shortstick defensive midfielder Cooper Mueller. The Tigers also have returning starters Nate Kabiri and Colin Burns on attack, where they will be joined by Peter Buonanno, last year's unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the year as a middie who now moves to attack. Tucker Wade enters his junior year as a preseason third-team All-American.
Ryan Croddick, the Ivy League Goalie of the Year last, is back for his senior year. The Tigers do have to replace attackman Coulter Mackesy, who graduated as Princeton's career leader in goals with 157 and a first-team All-American and Tewaaraton Award finalist last season, as well as starting defensemen Colin Mulshine and Michael Bath.Â
Princeton opens the 2026 season at home against Penn State Feb. 14.Â
2026 IVYÂ LEAGUEÂ MEN'SÂ LACROSSEÂ PRESEASONÂ POLL
Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)
| 1. | Princeton | 96Â (12) |
| 2. | Cornell | 85 (2) |
| 3. | Harvard | 69 |
| 4. | Yale | 50 |
| 5. | Dartmouth | 42 |
| 6. | Penn | 32 |
| 7. | Brown | 18 |
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Players Mentioned
LSM
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Attack
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Attack
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Goalie
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Attack
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Attack
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SSDM
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Defense
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Attack
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Midfield
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