AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Lander men's lacrosse team was picked to finish third in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference announced this morning.

Lander also placed two Bearcats on the Preseason All-Conference Team – seniors Michael Mattaliano and Jeremy Wudrick.

Leading the poll was last season's PBC Tournament champion Flagler with 16 points and four first-place votes. Montevallo was a spot ahead of LU with 12 points and a single first-place vote.

Alabama-Huntsville and conference newcomer Virginia State were fourth and fifth; the poll and press release from the conference office can be read at the link above.

Mattaliano is coming off the strongest season of his collegiate career where he scored 27 goals and added 17 assists. Those 44 points were third-most on the roster last season and earned him Second Team All-Conference honors at the end of the year.

The Fishers, Indiana, native produced four games with at least three goals in 2025, including a career-high five in Lander's regular-season conference championship-clinching win over Flagler last April.

Wudrick was similarly instrumental in the Bearcats' success a season ago. His 22 goals, 15 assists and 37 points were all fourth-most on the team as he was recognized as a Second Team All-Conference member at the conclusion of the season.

He too had four games of three or more goals, including a career-high four in last year's home-opening victory against Emmanuel (Ga.).

Lander begins the 2026 campaign in just over two weeks at Van Taylor Stadium in a home game versus Coker on Feb. 7. It is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.