ITHACA, N.Y. – Although the 2020 season was cut far too short, the Cornell men's lacrosse team made a statement, opening the year 5-0. Looking ahead to the 2021 campaign, the Big Red remains on the national radar, coming in at No. 8 in US Lacrosse Magazine's Early 2021 Rankings, the publication announced Thursday morning.

Even having played only five games, Cornell posted several impressive wins in 2020, including an exciting 17-16 victory over No. 16 Ohio State in Columbus and a thrilling 18-17 win over No. 2 Penn State at the Crown Lacrosse Classic. After Angelo Petrakis helped Cornell down the Nittany Lions on a last-second goal, the Big Red soared all the way to No. 2 in the USILA Coaches' and Inside Lacrosse Maverik Media Polls. This marked Cornell's highest USILA ranking since the 2014 season.

In his first season at the helm in 2021, Connor Buczek '15, The Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse, will lead a hungry Cornell group that features four returning All-Americans in Jeff Teat, Jonathan Donville, John Piatelli, and Gavin Adler.

The trio of Teat, Donville, and Piatelli was a vital part of the powerful Cornell offense that finished the season ranked first in the nation in shot percentage (0.404), second in scoring offense (18.40) and assists per game (10.40), and third in points per game (28.80) a year ago.

To view US Lacrosse Magazine's full list of Early 2021 Rankings, click here.