PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University men's lacrosse team was picked to finish third in the Little East Conference (LEC) as the league announced its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday.
 
Plymouth State earned one first-place vote and 46 points to finish just ahead of Massachusetts Maritime (45 points, one first-place vote). Western Connecticut State, which rolled to an unbeaten regular season before coasting to the LEC Tournament crown, earned four first-place votes to lead the poll with 60 points. UMass Boston, the tournament runner-up after narrowly slipping past the Panthers in the semifinals, was second with 59 points and three first-place votes.
 
Keene State (40 points), Eastern Connecticut State (28), Salem State (19), VTSU Castleton (17), and Southern Maine (10) rounded out the bottom half of the poll.
 
Head coach Mike Wilus begins his seventh season atop the program after guiding the Panthers to 40 wins, an LEC Tournament title in 2024, and two additional semifinal appearances over the last three years, both decided by a combined five goals.
 
The Panthers will be anchored by a trio of All-LEC honorees. Junior midfielder Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) enjoyed a breakout season as a First Team selection last spring, finishing among the league leaders in assists per game (1.25), points per game (3.00), ground balls per game (5.69), and faceoff winning percentage (.625). Senior goalie Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) ranked among the top two in the LEC in save percentage (.616) and goals against (7.83), while senior midfielder Zach Marvel (Raynham, Mass.) is a three-time All-LEC selection.
 
Plymouth State is set to open the season at Salve Regina on Feb. 14. The Panthers' home opener is scheduled for Mar. 18 against Wenworth Institute of Technology, while conference play begins on Mar. 28 with a trip to Eastern Connecticut.