HAVERFORD, Pa. — The Haverford College men's lacrosse team has been tabbed eighth in the annual preseason Centennial Conference poll, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon. Haverford received 18 total points in the overall balloting.
Despite narrowly missing the Centennial Conference playoffs in 2025, the Fords enjoyed a memorable season with several highlights, including reaching their best start in school history at 8-1 through the first nine contests, receiving points in the USILA Division III Coaches Poll, placing two players on the All-Centennial Conference Team, and earning one USILA Scholar All-American. Now in his third season, Head Coach Richard Carrington looks to guide Haverford back to the Centennial Conference playoffs.
Reigning Centennial Conference champion Dickinson was tabbed first with 63 points and seven first-place votes. Gettysburg followed in second with 58 points and two first-place votes, while Swarthmore came in third with 50 points. Franklin & Marshall was selected fourth with 40 points, followed closely by Muhlenberg in fifth with 38 points. Washington College was picked sixth with 26 points, Ursinus claimed seventh with 23 points, and Haverford was slotted eighth with 18 points. McDaniel rounded out the 2026 preseason poll with 8 points.
One player to watch in 2026 is Long Stick Midfielder Ronan West. A USILA Team of the Week selection last season, West had a breakout sophomore campaign with the Scarlet and Black, consistently proving himself as one of the top midfielders in the Centennial. The Mamaroneck, N.Y., native started all 16 games in his second year, tallying a career-high 15 points on eight goals and seven assists. At Rhodes on March 12, West posted two goals and two assists in a 15–13 victory. He followed that performance with a defensive masterclass against McDaniel on March 21, causing five turnovers and collecting eight ground balls — both season highs. West finished fifth in the Centennial with 23 caused turnovers and seventh with 69 ground balls.
On the offensive side, Reid Tietjen is poised for a big 2026 campaign following an injury-riddled 2025 season. A 2025 USA Lacrosse and Nike Lacrosse Preseason All-American Honorable Mention, Tietjen appeared in seven games after missing the first nine, making four starts and totaling 14 points on nine goals and four assists. He also collected 14 ground balls. Highlights included a three-point performance against Muhlenberg on April 9 and back-to-back hat tricks at Washington College (April 12) and at No. 16 Dickinson (April 19). After leading the Centennial Conference in scoring in 2024, Tietjen is gearing up for a tremendous senior season.
Men's lacrosse opens the 2026 season this Friday, February 13, on Swan Field, as the Scarlet and Black host the Neumann Knights at 4 p.m.
