MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's lacrosse team is adopting a new style of play this spring under first-year head coach Jack Spallone, a Cortland, N.Y., native who headed the program at NCAA Division II Saint Thomas Aquinas College last season.
 
"We are taking a stylist approach, teaching the game a different way," said Spallone, a former player at Division I Saint Joseph's University. "Our guys are learning different pieces to it. We're going to be more assertive on the field than passive. Our guys will play very physical and aggressive. They are competing hard at practice."
 
The Rams begin a new era under Spallone Feb. 21 with an exhibition game against Clarke in Dubuque. Cornell's season opener is Feb. 25 against Augustana in Rock Island, Ill.
 
Cornell fields a young team with eight starters gone from last year's 5-11 finish. The Rams graduated the program's all-time saves leader in goalie Thomas Cook and defender Torii Greiskalns, the 2025 NCAA statistical champion for caused turnovers per game.
 
"This is going to be a growing process and we'll continue to develop," Spallone said. "We've talked about holding a standard of execution. It doesn't matter the opponent or the score, the only thing we'll be measured by is ourselves."
 
Senior defender Ben Schwartz and junior midfielder Tyler Foster are returning honorable mention all-NACC selections. They are joined by senior attacker Caden Lynch and senior midfielder Brandon Warnke as 2026 team captains.
 
Foster (21 goals, 5 assists) and junior Charley Kobets (15 goals, 11 assists) led last year's team in scoring. Sophomore Kaden Weaver and Warnke contributed 17 and 16 points, respectively.
 
"We'd like to have six guys in the 30-35 point range this season," Spallone said. "Our shooting efficiency needs to improve."
 
Junior Nathan Diveley and freshman Elias Notsch are in competition at goalie. Diveley played four games in net last season.
 
The Rams went 2-9 in their first season in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. They are projected 10th in the NACC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Cornell opens its 11-game NACC schedule March 18 against Marian, which is also the home opener at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
"I feel good about the trajectory of our program," Spallone said. "There are going to be highs and lows, but our guys are buying in."