ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell men's lacrosse team will open the 2022 campaign ranked among the top-20 teams nationally on Inside Lacrosse's Preseason Media Poll, coming in at #15, the publication announced Monday morning.

The Big Red was one of three Ivy League teams among Inside Lacrosse's 2022 preseason rankings, with Yale being selected at #7 and Penn being chosen at #11. In total, five of the 20 ranked teams appear on Cornell's schedule this season, including #10 Army, #12 Syracuse, and #14 Lehigh, in addition to the Bulldogs and Quakers. Five additional Cornell opponents are receiving votes, including Ivy League foes Princeton and Brown, as well as Ohio State, Penn State, and UAlbany.

The Big Red's long-awaited return to the field is nearing closer and closer, with Cornell set to open the 2022 season at home against UAlbany on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, N.Y. The contest will mark the first time that Cornell has gone to battle in 713 days. The Big Red is eager to get back to business, and for fans who are eager to witness it, three of Cornell's first four games this season will be at Schoellkopf Field.

Connor Buczek '15, The Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse, enters his second year and first season at the helm of the Big Red. In addition to Buczek, Cornell will be led this season by team captains Joseph Bartolotto III, John Piatelli, and Chayse Ierlan. For fifth year seniors Bartolotto and Piatelli, this marks the second-straight year that the pair has served as team captains. Senior goalie Ierlan captains the Big Red for the first time.

Piatelli was recently named an Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media All-America honorable mention selection, having also been tabbed All-America honorable mention by the publication at the conclusion of the 2020 season. Gavin Adler was named Inside Lacrosse Media All-America honorable mention that season as well.

The last time the Big Red was in action in 2020, Cornell was off to a flawless start to the season, sitting at 5-0 and ranking as high as #2 in the USILA Coaches' and the Inside Lacrosse/Maverik Media Polls when the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID-19.