Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs have been chosen as the favorites in the preseason South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse poll, which was released Friday. In addition, six players have earned SAC Player to Watch accolades – Kyle Spence, Quad Williams, Joey Moran, Sam Goss, Jaxon Grant and Graham Tillett.

The Bulldogs received seven of the 10 first-place votes, with Anderson checking in at number two in the poll with a pair of first-place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne is third, collecting one first-place vote. Newberry is fourth, followed by Catawba, Coker and Mars Hill. LMU is eight, with Tusculum and Emory & Henry rounding out the poll.  

The Bulldogs received nine of the 11 first-places votes, followed by Anderson, collecting the other two first-place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne is third, followed by Newberry, UVA Wise, LMU and Tusculum. Catawba is eighth, with Coker, Mars Hill and Emory & Henry rounding out the poll.

Wingate went 15-5 last season, with a 6-4 mark in league play. The 'Dogs then took down #13 Newberry, #2 Limestone and #7 Anderson in the SAC Tournament, capturing the fourth SAC tourney title in program history. Wingate earned an NCAA Tourney bid and prevailed 17-16 at Lenoir-Rhyne to advance to the national quarterfinals. The four postseason victories for the 'Dogs all came against the four teams they lost to during the regular season.

Spence was named the SAC and Region Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, while earning first team All-American accolades from the USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine. He led the nation in points per game and assists per game. Spence had 39 goals and 79 assists last season, setting the Wingate single-season assists and points record. He added 38 ground balls on the season. Spence notched multiple points in every game in 2025, with six or more points on 12 occasions including a four-goal, six-assist effort at Tusculum, a four-goal, five-assist performance against Anderson and a two-goal, eight assist day at LR in the NCAA Tournament.

Williams started all 20 games for the Bulldogs last season, piling up 188 saves on the year. He posted a .499 save percentage and 10.08 goals-against average. He ranked second in the SAC in saves and fifth in goals-against average. Williams had double-digit saves in 11 contests, piling up 18 saves against LR in the Crown Classic. He had 15 saves against Anderson, while notching 12 saves against the Trojans in the SAC Tournament. Williams piled up 19 saves against the Bears in the NCAA Tourney win.

Moran ranked second on the team with 51 goals last season, adding 11 assists to finish fourth on the squad with 62 points. He added 19 ground balls and six caused turnovers. Moran earned second team All-SAC accolades in 2025. He poured in six goals in the season opener, while piling up six goals and two assists against Florida Tech. He had five goals and an assist against Tusculum, while scoring four goals at Limestone in the SAC Tourney win. Moran had three goals in the SAC title game, while registering three goals and an assist in the NCAA Tourney win at LR.

Goss piled up 44 points for the Bulldogs in 2025, notching 28 goals and 16 assists on the season. He added 19 ground balls. Goss had three goals and an assist against Florida Southern, while notching two goals and two assists against Florida Tech. He had a goal and three assists against Coker, followed by a three-goal, one-assist effort against Limestone in the SAC Tourney semifinals, which included the overtime game-winner. Goss poured in four goals in the SAC title game, then had two goals and an assist at Tampa in the national quarterfinals.

Grant collected 29 points in 2025, registering 24 goals and five assists on the season. HE also had 18 ground balls on the year. Grant had a pair of goals against Florida Southern, while piling up three goals and three assists against Tusculum. He also scored three goals against Coker, while scoring twice in the SAC semifinal win at Limestone. Grant had a goal and an assist in the NCAA Tourney victory at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Tillett started 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2025, collecting 15 caused turnovers and 28 ground balls on the year. He also scored two goals and handed out an assist. Tillett helped the 'Dogs rank second in the SAC in caused turnovers per game and third in scoring defense. He had two CTs and five ground balls in the season opener, while notching two CTs and three ground balls against Mars Hill. He piled up three CTs and two ground balls against Newberry. Tillett scored a goal in the season opener, while also scoring against Mars Hill.

Wingate opens the 2026 season at home, hosting #17 North Greenville Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs also host Florida Southern next Saturday at 11 a.m.  
 
AC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

Rank	School (First Place Votes)	Score
1.	Wingate (7)	104
2.	Anderson (2)	97
3.	Lenoir-Rhyne (1)	96
4.	Newberry	87
5.	Catawba	76
6.	Coker	65
7.	Mars Hill	59
8.	Lincoln Memorial	56
9.	Tusculum	44
10.	Emory & Henry	36

 
SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Players to Watch

Anderson: Radyn Badraun, Ryan Bitterman, Brayden Bushnoe, Aiden Dixon, Garrett Krsul, Adin Laughlin
Catawba: Owen Conway, Steven Hernandez, Kier McKnight, Tanner Stout, Garrett Simi, Peyton Turner
Coker: Lennon Connolly, Michael Jensen, Brandon Calidonio, Ryan Forehand, Kaleb Hiltz, Elijah Utz
Emory & Henry: David Mewes, Jackson Jones, Gavin Starling, Brayden Hall, Jacob Mills, Noah Parrish
Lenoir-Rhyne: Donovan Powell, Morgan Madish, Matt Mancini, Jarrett Huff, Zack Salo, Parks Painter
Lincoln Memorial: Jenson Jones, Koen Burdette, Beckett O'Shea, Dominico Moscato, Connor Blondin, Lucas Weaver
Mars Hill: Sam Arendt, Jake Lynch, AJ Howland, Lukas Kight
Newberry: Brian Lake, Liam Vollans, Jaiden Terry, Ryan Morrison, Gage Vigar, Scott Williams
Tusculum: Luke Bowen, Tysen Fontenla, Aiden Lyman, Aiden Paczek, Jayden Rios, Ben Royer
Wingate: Kyle Spence, Joey Moran, Jaxon Grant, Graham Tillett, Quad Williams, Sam Goss