NESCAC season preview: Amherst, Tufts and Wesleyan the heavyweights

Colby faceoff specialist Joe Paolatto, a native of Sherborn, Mass. (Colby Athletics)

The NESCAC is often talked about as the preeminent conference in Division 3, and it's easy to understand why.

Three of the past five national champions have emerged from the NESCAC, with Wesleyan winning for the first time ever in 2018 and Tufts going back-to-back in 2014 and '15. Stretch it back even further and Middlebury won three straight from 2000-02.

Thus, there's some increased attention and focus on the NESCAC and all it could bring about in 2019. To break it all down, New England Lacrosse Journal has a team-by-team look at each program, including its key losses, key returners, potential breakout players and overall outlook.

Of the 15 teams in our preseason coaches poll, nine call the NESCAC home. To learn more about those squads, check out our in-depth preview.