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Big Ten Conference Announces Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Honors
Johns Hopkins named Preseason Big Ten Favorite
ROSEMONT, lll. – For the second year in a row, Johns Hopkins is considered the favorite to win the Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse regular season title, just beating out 2024 NCAA runner-up Maryland in balloting for the
preseason coaches' poll released Wednesday.
Penn State was picked third ahead of 2024 Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan, Ohio State and Rutgers to round out the poll.
The Big Ten also released a Players to Watch List, comprised of three players from each of its six programs. Five players on the list earned 2024 post-season honors, including Penn State’s TJ Malone and Jack
Fracyon, who earned Offensive Player of the Year and Specialist of the Year Awards respectively. Cardin Stoller also earned Freshman of the Year honors for Rutgers.
The NCAA lacrosse season begins on Saturday with Big Ten play commencing March 22. The Big Ten Tournament opens with quarterfinal matches on Saturday, April 26 on campus before the action shifts to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the semifinals on May 1 and the championship on May 3.
Five Big Ten teams are ranked in the Inside Lacrosse poll: Maryland (No. 5), Johns Hopkins (No. 8), Penn State (No. 14), Michigan (No. 15), Ohio State (No. 19). Rutgers is receiving votes.
Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll- Johns Hopkins
- Maryland
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Maryland
- Rutgers
Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Players to Watch List
| Name | School | Year | Position | Hometown |
| Matt Collison | Johns Hopkins | Jr. | Midfield | Scarborough, Ontario |
| Scott Smith + | Johns Hopkins | Gr. | Defense | Berwyn, Pa. |
| Quintan Kilrain | Johns Hopkins | So. | Defense | Purcellville, Va. |
| Braden Erksa | Maryland | Jr. | Midfield | Marietta, Ga. |
| Eric Kolar | Maryland | Jr. | Midfield | Mount Airy, Md. |
| Logan McNaney | Maryland | Gr. | Goalie | Corning, N.Y. |
| Hunter Taylor | Michigan | Jr. | Goalie | Rockville, Md. |
| Pace Billings | Michigan | Gr. | Defense | Denver, Colo. |
| Ryan Cohen | Michigan | Sr. | Attack | Boca Raton, Fla. |
| Alex Marinier | Ohio State | Sr. | Attack | Burlington, Ontario |
| Bobby Van Buren | Ohio State | Sr. | Defense | Wingate, N.C. |
| Cullen Brown | Ohio State | Jr. | Defense | Silver Spring, Md. |
| Alex Ross ^ | Penn State | Jr. | Defense | Davidsonville, Md. |
| Jack Fracyon + | Penn State | Sr. | Goalie | Annapolis, Md. |
| Matt Traynor ^ | Penn State | Sr. | Attack | Downington, Pa. |
| Cardin Stolller | Rutgers | So. | Goalie | Owing Mills, Md. |
| Colin Kurdyla | Rutgers | So. | Midfield | Bridgewater, N.J. |
| Tommy Mendyke | Rutgers | Sr. | Attack | Eden Prairie, Minn. |
+ 2024 All-Big Ten First Team
^2024 All-Big Ten Second Team