BETHLEHEM, Pa. —  In a vote cast by the league's coaches and sports information directors, the Navy men's lacrosse team has been picked to finish fifth in the 2025 Patriot League Preseason Poll, it was announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon. Additionally, Navy's Jack Flaherty (Jr / M / Massapequa, N.Y.) was named to the preseason all-league team.     

Breaking Down the Poll
Army, the 2024 Patriot League Co-Regular-Season Champion, secured 14 of the 18 first-place votes (eligible for only 16 due to not being able to vote for your own team) and amassed 125 points to top the poll for a second-consecutive year. It's only the third time (2023, Boston U / 20024, Army) since Loyola joined the Patriot League in 2014 that the Greyhounds were not the preseason favorite.

Lehigh, who won the Patriot League Tournament title a year ago, earned 100 points and a first-place vote to finish second in the balloting, while Colgate, who was among four teams to finish tied for third last spring with a 5-3 record, posted 95 points and had three first-place votes to finish third. Closing out the poll was Boston U. (86) in fourth, followed by Navy (72), Loyola (69), Bucknell (49), Lafayette (35) and Holy Cross (17). 

Navy in the Patriot League
The Mids have won at least a share of the regular-season Patriot League title in 8 (2004-05-06-07-08-15-16-18) of the 20 seasons they have been a member of the conference. Meanwhile Navy has compiled a 12-11 record in the Patriot League Tournament to earn 5 conference tournament crowns (2004-05-06-07-09). Navy has amassed an 93-50 (65.0) regular-season record in the Patriot League since 2004 in joining what is now a nine-member lacrosse conference (Hobart left following the '04 campaign; Loyola and Boston U. joined in 2014), and includes two undefeated seasons (2004, '07).

The Cream of the Crop
In addition to the preseason poll, the 2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Team was also unveiled and headlining the 16-player team were the Patriot League's Preseason Players of the Year -  Offense (Evan Plunkett / Army / Jr), Defense (AJ Pilate / Army / Sr), Goalkeeper (Matt LaCombe / Colgate / Sr) and Faceoff (Will Coletti, Army / Sr). All four players were named the players of the year at their respective positions at the end of the 2024 campaign.

The 2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Team is comprised of 11 seniors and 5 juniors. Six of the nine teams placed players on the preseason team, including Army and Colgate who led the way with five players each. Lehigh and Loyola had two players, while Bucknell and Navy each had one. 

Jack Flaherty, a first-time Patriot League honoree, was a starter in eight of the 16 contests as a rookie where he produced 12 points on seven goals and five assists. Last season, he played primarily with the second midfield where he turned in 13 points on six goals and seven assists

Season Opener Fast Approaching
Navy will open its 118th year of varsity lacrosse on Feb. 1 when it travels to North Carolina to battle High Point. The contest is slated for a 12-noon faceoff and will be streamed live on ESPN+. There will not be a radio broadcast of this game. The Mids will open their home slate a week later when they welcome first-year program Iona on Feb. 8 (12:00 pm).

Single-game tickets for home Navy men's lacrosse games are on sale now and may be purchased by stopping by the Navy Ticket Office at Ricketts Hall, by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY, via the internet at www.navysports.com or at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on game day. Ticket prices for home games are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under, while groups of 20 or more will be offered a discounted ticket (in advance only, contact Jordan Albright at 410-293-8791 / grouptickets@usna.edu). Ticket prices for the Army-Navy game are $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Additionally there is a $10 charge (credit card only) to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for all games.

2025 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Army, 125 points (14 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 100 (1)
3. Colgate, 95 (3)
4. Boston U., 86
5. Navy, 72
6. Loyola, 69
7. Bucknell, 49
8. Lafayette, 35
9. Holy Cross, 17

2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Team
A - Jackson Eicher, Army (Sr)
A - Connor Davis, Bucknell (Sr)
A - Rory Connor, Colgate (Sr)
A - Matt Minicus, Loyola (Jr)
M - Evan Plunkett, Army (Jr)
M - Hunter Drouin, Colgate (Jr)
M - Dakota Eierman, Lehigh (Sr)
M - Jack Flaherty, Navy (Jr)
D - AJ Pilate, Army (Sr)
D - Aidan Murnane, Colgate (Sr)
D - Richard Checo, Lehigh (Jr)
D - Remi Reynolds, Loyola (Sr)
GK - Matt LaCombe, Colgate (Sr)
FO - Will Coletti, Army (Sr)
LSM - Max Yates, Colgate (Sr)
SSM - Christian Mazur, Army (Sr)

Preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year:  Evan Plunkett, Army (Jr / M)
Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year:  AJ Pilate, Army (Sr / D)
Preseason Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year:  Matt LaCombe, Colgate (Sr)
Preseason Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Year:  Will Coletti, Army (Sr)

### Go Navy ###