Cobras Tabbed 6th in Preseason SAC Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. -  The Coker men's lacrosse team has been picked to finish sixth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced Friday.

The Cobras, led by fifth-year head coach Austin Ambrose, are coming off an eighth-place finish in the SAC last season. Coker posted a 7-9 overall record and went 4-6 in the conference last season. 

Coker garnered 65 points and came in behind Wingate, Anderson, Lenoir-Rhyne, Newberry and Catawba in the poll. 

Senior attack Kaleb Hiltz is the Cobras top returning goal scorer from the 2025 season. Hiltz netted 22 goals to go with eight assists. Hiltz was named to the 2026 SAC Preseason Player to Watch list. He is joined on the list by teammates Lennon Connolly, Michael Jensen, Brandon Calidonio, Ryan Forehand and Elijah Utz. 

Connolly, a senior long stick midfielder, has played in 44 games during his Coker career with 28 starts. Jensen, a graduate student defender, returns to Coker where he led Division II in caused turnovers in 2023. Calidonio, a sophomore faceoff specialist, appeared in 14 games in 2025 for the Cobras with three goals scored and 73 ground balls. Forehand, a senior attacker, has played in 45 games while at Coker with 42 goals and 47 assists during that time including 13 goals and 23 assists in 2025. Utz, a senior midfielder, has played in 29 games for the Cobras with 29 goals and 22 assists, but missed the 2025 season. 

Coker opens the season on Friday evening when they host Barton at 5 PM on the Coker Athletic Field. 

2026 SAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank School (first place votes) Points

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