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men's lacrosse

Men’s Lacrosse Embarks on 2026 Campaign

| By: Ashley Hudak

The Raiders will compete in 13 regular season games

HAMILTON — The Colgate Raiders men's lacrosse team is gearing up for the 2026 season. They will compete in 13 games, facing six nationally ranked opponents.

Coming off a remarkable 10–8 record last year, the Raiders made an impressive run in the Patriot League tournament, capturing the championship as the No. 5 seed—a feat they hadn't achieved since 2015. Their journey included a significant victory over the No. 2 seed, Boston University. However, their season concluded with a narrow 13–11 defeat to Penn State in the NCAA Tournament.

"We talked a lot about how we prepare our guys," said head coach Matt Karweck. "It didn't start when they first came back in the fall; it really started when the season ended last year. We were talking about getting our sticks right and coming in prepared.

"One of the things I was so proud of our seniors and our upperclassmen was reaching out to the first-years coming in in the summer, teaching them how we do what we do and how we train the way we train. Watching them grow from where they were at the end of last year and then this next, then through the course of the fall and now these last three weeks, have been solidifying how we operate. We had a great preseason, and guys were extremely dialed in."

The 2026 roster will see significant changes, as the Raiders have graduated 18 seniors. Among the departed class were several standout performers, including two All-American honorable mentions recognized by Nike Lacrosse Media, three by USILA, and one by USA Lacrosse Magazine.

"Graduating 18 guys is a lot of players, and they played a lot of minutes for us over the years, and so we have so much respect for that class and what they did for our program to put us in where we are," Karweck mentioned. "You have to replace the senior class every year; that's the one thing that is consistent, but I will say that we had a lot of guys last year that were right behind those guys that played most of the minutes.

"They were working, caring, on a scout team, or they were there just to play, and so we have a great group of younger guys that have been waiting their turn to play and really earning their spots. We got some new positions coming up, obviously, that'll get solidified through the course of the year, but we need to continue to work and grow as a team together."

Despite these departures, the Raiders will rely on the leadership of returning senior captains Hunter Drouin and Patty Eldredge. Drouin, a USILA Third Team Preseason All-American, an All-America honorable mention from Insider Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine, has been named to the Patriot League preseason team as a midfielder. Eldredge, known for leading in the midfield, appeared in all 18 games for the Raiders last season. He scored three goals, collected 14 ground balls, and caused five turnovers.

"Ben Thomas, who won't get the accolades on Saturdays but is such a pivotal part of our team—and I could go down the list of our senior class of guys that don't do it—but Ben Thomas and Larkin Devine are two guys that really stepped up and took control," said Karweck.

"When it comes to Patty and Hunter, they've been leaders on this team. Hunter was a captain last year, but Patty has been a leader, and so just watching them command—and one of the things I talk to them about is just command presence. When they're around, the standard is higher. When they're not around, they need to lead so that the standard stays the same. That's the real challenge of leadership for them. We're super excited about the way that they've not just come into the season but have grown since we've seen them and established them as captains."

The upcoming season presents one of the top-20 most challenging schedules, with the Raiders set to face six nationally ranked opponents. These include No. 3 Syracuse, No. 7 Penn State, No. 12 Army, No. 13 Harvard, No. 14 Virginia, and No. 17 Boston University. Notably, Colgate will open its season with a much-anticipated matchup against Penn State, offering an early test and an opportunity to avenge last season's narrow loss.

As the season unfolds, fans and followers will be watching closely to see how the Raiders navigate a demanding schedule and integrate new talent with experienced leadership. With high-profile games on the horizon, the 2026 season promises to be an engaging journey for Colgate men's lacrosse.
 
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