Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (2/11/2026) – The most recent in a series of league announcements, Commissioner Rebecca Mullen has officially released the results of the
2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. The defending AEC Champions, Marymount University earned top billing in the rankings with four of six first-place votes and 24 total points. Gwynedd Mercy University was ranked fifth by the league's six head coaches with 10 total points.
Following Marymount University (24 total points, 4 first-place votes) the standings forecast ranked Marywood University (20, 1), Neumann University (19, 1), Immaculata University (11), Gwynedd Mercy University (10), and Centenary University (N.J.) (6). The Pacers and Knights split the two remaining first-place votes.
In 2025, early league road wins over the Cyclones (W, 15-4 on Apr. 5) and Mighty Macs (W, 17-8 on Apr. 9) were enough to earn Gwynedd Mercy University the #4 seed for the 2025 AEC Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament. Unfortunately, the Griffins season came to a close in the AEC Semifinals with a 25-7 loss to top-seeded – and eventual league champion – Marymount University. The Red and Gold finished the campaign – their second under Head Coach
Meghan Sacks - with a 4-14 overall record and a 2-3 league standing. Four Griffins were recognized on the 2025 All-AEC Women's Lacrosse release as an AEC Rookie of the Year title for freshman midfielder
Elena Colliluori (Gilbertsville, Pa.) was complemented by All-AEC Second Team honors for senior midfielder
Cheyenne Avellino (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), sophomore midfielder
Rebecca Gordon (Sicklerville, N.J.), and sophomore defender
Teagan O'Neill (Pennsauken, N.J.). With the Red and Gold's 2026 schedule featuring all 18 of their 2025 opponents, Coach Sacks will look to Gordon, O'Neill, and Collilulori to lead Gwynedd Mercy University to success this season.
Gwynedd Mercy University begins their 2026 season on Wednesday, February 18, with a 4:00 p.m. home game versus Delaware Valley University.
The complete results of the
2026 AEC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll are listed below and available using the provided links.
2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
| Rank.Team |
Total Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1. Marymount University |
24 |
4 |
| 2. Marywood University |
20 |
1 |
| 3. Neumann University |
19 |
1 |
| 4. Immaculata University |
11 |
|
| 5. Gwynedd Mercy University |
10 |
|
| 6. Centenary University (N.J.) |
6 |
|
