NAPERVILLE – Illinois Wesleyan, the owner of a 32-game College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) regular-season win streak and the winner of the last five league championships, is the coaches’ preseason favorite again in 2024 according to a Tuesday release from the conference office.

2024 CCIW Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll

Team (First-place votes)	Points
1. Illinois Wesleyan (4)	24
T2. Carthage (1)	18
T2. Elmhurst (1)	18
4. North Central	16
T5. Augustana	7
T5. Carroll	7

The Titans were one of three squads to receive a first-place vote from league head coaches late last month, being selected at the top on four ballots for a total of 24 points. The Titans swept the CCIW’s regular-season and tournament titles last spring before picking up a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Aurora. IWU bowed out of the national postseason in the second round.
 
Both Carthage and Elmhurst earned a single first-place vote to tie for second place in the poll on Tuesday with 18 points apiece. The Firebirds were 11-6 overall and qualified for the semifinal round of the CCIW Tournament last season, while Elmhurst won 10 games and finished fifth in the final league standings in 2024.
 
North Central, which finished second in the CCIW last season and is two seasons removed from its first CCIW Tournament championship, was slotted fourth in Tuesday’s poll. The Cardinals were the recipients of 16 points.
 
Augustana and Carroll tied for the fifth spot in the preseason rankings with seven points each.