LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will open up the 2022 campaign ranked fifth in the country after the Captains earned a top-five position in the USILA National Preseason Coaches Poll, which was announced on Monday afternoon.

The Captains received 300 total points in the poll, which slotted them just behind fourth-ranked York (Pa.). Meanwhile, RIT enters the year as the preseason favorites, while Salisbury and Tufts sit second and third, respectively.

The USILA poll is the third top-five ranking received by Christopher Newport in 2022. Previously, the Captains were picked fourth in the initial poll released by USA Lacrosse Magazine and fifth by Inside Lacrosse. Prior to this year, the highest preseason ranking ever achieved by the program was 11th in 2019 and 2021.

Along with Coast-to-Coast Conference rival Salisbury, Christopher Newport has battles scheduled against four other programs listed in the top-20. The Captains will host No. 10 Williams on March 30 and No. 12 Colorado College on April 24. Additionally, the team will square off against No. 6 Lynchburg and No. 17 Gettysburg during the Mustang Classic in the middle of March.

Incredibly, of Christopher Newport's 16 opponents during the regular season in 2022, 11 earned at least one vote in the USILA poll. In addition to the five nationally-ranked foes, Washington & Lee, Ursinus, Illinois Wesleyan, Hampden-Sydney, Catholic, and Grove City were slotted just outside of the top-20.

The Captains are coming off of a 2021 campaign that saw the program advance to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Along the way, the team posted a 13-6 record and climbed as high as third in the USILA Coaches Poll. Of the 15 players who started at least one game last year, 14 are back on the roster, including the team's top-11 scorers and the entire starting lineup from the National Semifinals.

Christopher Newport will open the year on February 12 when the team hosts Roanoke at Jennings Family Stadium.

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