SEATTLE - After rolling to the league title in 2024, Northwest Nazarene men's lacrosse has been tabbed the team to beat in Division II of the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL), according to the preseason coaches poll.
The Nighthawks were awarded all seven of the first-place votes cast in the nine-team conference, pushing them well clear of second-ranked Montana. Northwest Nazarene downed the Grizzlies, 20-5, to capture last year's PNCLL title. The Nighthawks went 14-3 overall in the 2024 season, winning a game over UNC Charlotte in the MLCA Tournament before falling to top seed Air Force.
NNU returns 24 of the 25 players that saw action last season, including all 17 that scored goals and both goalies.Â
College of Idaho was slotted third in the preseason poll followed by Western Washington.
2025 PNCLL Division II Preseason Poll
| RANK |
TEAM |
POINTS |
1st VOTES |
| 1. |
Northwest Nazarene |
63 |
7 |
| 2. |
Montana |
54 |
|
| 3. |
College of Idaho |
48 |
|
| 4. |
Western Washington |
44 |
|
| 5. |
Western Oregon |
36 |
|
| 6. |
Central Washington |
25 |
|
| 7. |
Gonzaga |
24 |
|
| 8. |
Puget Sound |
15 |
|
| 9. |
Pacific Lutheran |
7 |
