Sparkill, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference announced the results of its Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll, with St. Thomas Aquinas College picked to finish sixth in the league's standings.
The Spartans posted a 4-10 record (1-4 ECC) in 2025 and will return 25 players from last year's squad, including; Nathan Smith (M), Vinny Rosario (FO), Christian Rodriguez (M), Nicola Greer (M), Wilson Ingalls (M), Ben Eckert (M), Lou Takacs (M), Cam Wallace (A), Stone McGregor (D), James Guild (DM), Max Benoit (A), Holden Johnston (D), Austin Griffiths (M), Nathan Thomas (M), Abe Wallace (A), Ethan Urbanski (D), Jeremy Poggi (A), Hayden Gaudette (GK), Austin Palen (FO), Steven Ojeda (D), Timothy Fisher (D), Tre Turner (A/M), Tyler Shertzer (D), Cooper Gyug (D) and Jaiden Bennett (D/DM).
First year head coach Brett Capps has added a mix of upperclassmen and freshman for the upcoming campaign. Gage Parnell (Fr.|M|Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada), Liam Noseworthy (Fr.|M/A|Greenfield Park, Quebec Canada), Rohahiio Stacey (Fr.|M|Kahnawake, Quebec Canada), Jesse Kovaleski (Fr.|M|Jermyn, Pa.), Nicholas Kostewicz (Fr.|A|Pittsburh, Pa.), Jaden Heltzel (Fr.|GK|Tulsa, Okla.), Nodin Porter (Fr.|M|Kitchener, Ontario Canada), Tim Philbin (Sr.|A/M|Highland Mills, N.Y.|Rockland Community College), Cohen Visheau (Fr.|A|Brantford, Ontario Canada), Karonhiakehson Jacobs (Fr.|LSM|Kahnawake, Quebec Canada) and Ewan MacGregor (Fr.|M|Kelowna, British Columbia Canada) make up the new faces who will bring their skills and talents to Sparkill for the new season.
The biggest change to the STAC Men's Lacrosse program will be on the sideline with the promotion of Brett Capps to head coach. Capps takes over the reigns of the Spartans with a wealth of experience in collegiate lacrosse. Last season, he served as an Assistant Coach at STAC, and previously guided the Keystone College Men's Lacrosse team as Head Coach from 2021 to 2024, where his players set new program and single-season records in goals, assists, points and caused turnovers.
St. Thomas Aquinas will battle defending ECC Champs Molloy University, along with Mercy University, Roberts Wesleyan University, Frostburg State University, D'Youville University and the University of the District of Columbia for the right to be called ECC Men's Lacrosse Champion. The teams will only play each other once in the regular season.
The action gets underway for the Spartans on Wednesday, February 18 (7:00 p.m.) against non-conference opponent Adelphi University at Motamed Field on Long Island.
2026 East Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Molloy University - 47 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Mercy University – 41 points
3. Roberts Wesleyan University – 33 points (1 first-place vote)
4. Frostburg State University – 32 points
5. D’Youville University – 22 points
6. St. Thomas Aquinas College – 13 points
7. University of the District of Columbia – 8 points
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Brian Green, Molloy
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Kofod, Molloy