LOUISVILLE, Ky.— The Colorado Mesa University men's lacrosse team and senior Deuce Kirschke have received preseason recognition from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, which released its NCAA Division II Preseason Poll and All-America teams this week.
 
The Mavericks, coming off a 13-4 season and a conference regular season and tournament title sweep as well as a NCAA Division II Tournament appearance, were picked 14^th in the national team poll.
 
Kirschke was named as the USILA's Third Team Division II Preseason All-American at the short stick defensive midfield position.  He was also tabbed as an honorable mention all-American by the organization for his 2025 season efforts and also earned First Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference division and Second Team USILA All-South Region honors last year.
 
Earlier this week, he was one of four Mavs named to the Preseason All-RMAC team as the Mavs topped the conference poll.
 
In 2025, the Mavericks went 7-1 in Rocky Mountain Division play and then won the Peach Belt Conference Tournament title to earn the program's second NCAA Tournament bid.
 
Kirschke scored 13 goals and added five assists while claiming 24 ground balls and nine caused turnovers last season.
 
The Mavs return seven of their top ten goal scorers from last year's campaign as well as goalkeeper Shaden Shields, the Peach Belt Conference Tournament MVP.  They are the only RMAC team in the top 20 poll although Concordia University Irvine picked up nine votes in the voting.
 
CMU received 141 points in the polling of 19 coaches.
 
The Mavs are slated to play three games against teams that are also included in the USILA's Preseason Top 20, including next week's neutral-site season-opener against No. 20 Rockhurst on Sunday, Feb. 8 in Alamosa, Colorado.
 
The Mavs will also played second-ranked Tampa and 12^th-ranked Flagler in back-to-back games on Mar. 15 and 17 in Florida.  The Mavs lost at Tampa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year after winning at Flagler to claim the Peach Belt Conference Tournament title and the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Defending national champion Adelphi received all 19 first place votes to top the poll with 380 points while Tampa picked up 360.