SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's lacrosse team is ranked 10th in Division III according to the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men's Preseason Top 20 poll, which was released by US Lacrosse Magazine last week.
 
The Dutchmen are one of three Liberty League schools in the initial poll, joining Rochester Institute of Technology (3) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (17).
 
In 2020, Union was ranked 11th in the USILA preseason poll and moved up to 10th before the season was prematurely canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had started the season with four wins in its first five games, including a victory over #12 St. John Fisher and a narrow one-goal loss to #4 Williams College.
 
"We are excited to be back in the top 10," said head coach Derek Witheford, who begins his second season as the helm of the Dutchmen in 2021. "I hope these student-athletes have the opportunity to compete on the field this year in a safe environment."

NIKE/US LACROSSE DIVISION III MEN'S PRESEASON TOP 20
1. Salisbury
2. Tufts
3. RIT
4. Wesleyan (Conn.)
5. Ursinus
6. Cabrini
7. Williams
8. Denison
9. Gettysburg
10. Union (N.Y.)
11. York (Pa.)
12. Amherst
13. Lynchburg
14. Franklin & Marshall
15. St. John Fisher
16. Middlebury
17. RPI
18. Christopher Newport
19. Washington and Lee
20. Stevenson