NASHUA, N.H. - The Rivier men's lacrosse team earned the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year after going unbeaten in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play for the second straight season. The Raiders also made program history by finishing the regular season undefeated overall at 15-0 (11-0 GNAC).
The Raiders will host No. 8 Regis (Mass.) on Saturday afternoon at Joanne Merrill Field with the first face-off set for 12:00 p.m.
Rivier opened the 2026 season strong with home wins over Plymouth State and Curry and quickly built momentum with early conference victories. Rivier surged in mid-March behind a high-powered offense and carried that success through GNAC play, extending its winning streak to 12 games.
The Raiders closed the regular season with statement victories against GNAC contenders, including an overtime Senior Day win over Saint Joseph (Conn.) and road victories over Saint Joseph's (Me.) and Emmanuel (Mass.), finishing the regular season undefeated.
Across the regular season, Rivier outscored opponents by a 218-61 margin, posting the highest scoring differential in the GNAC. The Raiders allowed just 4.07 goals per game, ranking among the nation's top defensive units in NCAA Division III, while conference opponents were held to 55 total goals. Rivier also excelled in the possession game, finishing the regular season with a 70.9% faceoff win percentage and an 87.3% clearing rate, both among the best in the league.
Offensively, the Raiders featured one of the most balanced attacks in Division III, with six players surpassing the 30-point mark. Sophomore Aiden Conley led the team with 33 goals, while first-year Conor Walsh paced the squad in total points with 46 on 24 goals and 22 assists. Sophomore Mason Schultz and Sophomore James DelPrete each contributed 40 points, while first-year Andrew Nee added 37 to round out a deep and dynamic offensive group that averaged 14.5 goals per game.
Defensively, Rivier was anchored by a unit that forced 152 caused turnovers and collected 561 ground balls over the 15-game slate. First-year Colin Foley led the team with 26 turnovers and 51 ground balls, while Sophomore Liam Conley, Junior Cole Ronalter, and senior Sean Callinan provided consistent pressure and transition play throughout the season. Sophomore Jake Lydon anchored the Raiders in net, tallying 135 saves with a 69.2% save percentage and leading Division III with a 4.59 goals-against average.
At the faceoff X, senior Owen McDuffie set the pace for the Raiders with a dominant 74.9% win percentage and 94 ground balls. Junior Noah Zeman provided reliable support, winning 67.1% of his attempts and adding 35 ground balls.
The Pride has earned the No.8 seed and first postseason appearance since joining the GNAC, after finishing 5-8 overall and 4-7 in conference play. When these squads met in the regular season, the Raiders came out on top 23-3 back on March 25.
Regis (Mass.) is led offensively by senior Nick Klein, who tops the roster with 63 points (50 goals, 13 assists). Junior Jack Jaynes follows with 48 points (35 goals, 13 assists), while sophomore Luke Meelia adds 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists). On the defensive end, senior Colin McGarry has caused a team-high 24 turnovers, with first-year Aiden Moulton close behind at 18. Between the pipes, senior Devin Hammon has played every minute this season, posting a 51.7 save percentage on a 12.78 goals against average, with 178 saves.
The winner of this quarterfinal matchup will face the victor of the No. 4 Lasell vs. No. 5 Saint Joseph's (Maine) on April 29, with the time and location to be determined.
