ATLANTA, Ga. (January 30, 2023) – Heading into the season riding an 11-game Southern Athletic Association winning streak, Centre was picked to win a third-straight title in the 2023 SAA Men’s Lacrosse Preseason poll.
 
Centre totaled 45 points and three first place votes to narrowly edge Sewanee with 41 points and three first place nods. Birmingham-Southern was third in the poll with 35 points and the remaining first place vote. The poll was conducted among the SAA’s head coaches.
 
2023 MLAX PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
1. Centre - 45 pts. (3)
2. Sewanee - 41 pts. (3)
3. Birmingham-Southern - 35 pts. (1)
4. Rhodes - 33 pts.
5. Berry - 21 pts.
6. Hendrix - 13 pts.
7. Oglethorpe - 8 pts.
(first place votes)
 
The Colonels went 6-0 in league play a year ago, winning by average of more than seven goals a game. That season followed up 5-0 SAA mark in 2021 that saw Centre win its first outright conference title in program history. Two-time SAA Offensive Player of the Year Will Hubbs and 2022 SAA Defensive Player of the Year Graham Robbins both return with the intent of extending the Colonels conference winning streak throughout the season.
 
Sewanee owns four regular season SAA titles and is searching for a first since the 2016 season. The Tigers were 3-3 during the conference regular season last year but rolled through the SAA Tournament and beat Rhodes 10-9 in a thrilling final to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Sewanee beat Benedictine in the first round before being bounced by Christopher Newport.
 
BSC finished runner-up in the SAA standings a year ago, going 12-6 overall and 5-1 in league play. The Panthers lone loss was a 13-12 overtime heartbreaker to Centre. Reigning SAA Coach of the Year Casey Kear returns a pair of 2022 first team All-SAA performers in Cade Marino and Reid Harrison.
 
Oglethorpe visits Shorter on February 1 to start the 2023 SAA men’s lacrosse season. Sewanee against Oglethorpe and Berry at Centre on March 18 starts the conference round-robin schedule, culminating in the SAA Tournament. Quarterfinals are set for Saturday, April 22 at the four highest seeds. The top remaining seed will host the semifinals and championship, April 28-30.