Salisbury Sea Gulls Men’s Lacrosse 2026 Season Recap
Salisbury Sea Gulls Men’s Lacrosse 2026 Season Recap
The standard at Salisbury University never changes.
National championship expectations arrive every spring for one of Division III lacrosse’s most dominant programs, and the 2026 Sea Gulls once again delivered a season packed with ranked wins, explosive offense and another deep NCAA Tournament run.
Salisbury finished 16-4 overall, captured the Coastal Lacrosse Conference championship and reached the NCAA Tournament third round before falling in overtime to RIT.
The season featured elite offensive production, strong goaltending and another loaded roster under legendary head coach Jim Berkman.
2026 Salisbury Men’s Lacrosse Record
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Overall | 16-4 |
| CLC Record | 3-1 |
| Home Record | 11-2 |
| Away Record | 4-1 |
| Neutral Site | 1-1 |
Salisbury spent most of the season ranked inside the national top 10 and climbed as high as No. 2 nationally during the spring.
Team Statistics
The Sea Gulls dominated offensively once again.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 340 |
| Assists | 200 |
| Shots | 1,074 |
| Goals Against | 169 |
| Shot Percentage | .317 |
| Power-Play Goals | 28 |
Salisbury averaged more than 17 goals per game while allowing fewer than nine.
The offense attacked opponents in waves throughout the season.
Top Salisbury Players
Connor Herraiz — Offensive Leader
Connor Herraiz emerged as one of Salisbury’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
Strengths:
- Elite vision
- Quick release
- Transition playmaking
- Extra-man offense
Herraiz consistently controlled tempo against top opponents and delivered several huge postseason moments.
Bret Bergey — Goal Scoring Machine
Bret Bergey became one of the Sea Gulls’ most consistent scorers.
Bergey delivered:
- multi-goal games
- transition scoring
- physical midfield play
- clutch postseason production
Several key goals against Stockton and Christopher Newport changed momentum during conference tournament play.
Preston Huffman — Finisher Around the Cage
Preston Huffman gave Salisbury another reliable offensive option near the crease.
Huffman’s finishing ability helped the Sea Gulls overwhelm defenses during the second half of the season.
Blake Malamphy — Faceoff Dominance
Blake Malamphy quietly became one of the most important players on the roster.
Winning possessions fueled Salisbury’s high-powered offense.
Malamphy consistently controlled faceoffs throughout:
- conference play
- NCAA Tournament games
- ranked matchups
Collin Fohner — Backbone in Goal
Collin Fohner anchored the defense with another strong season in net.
Big saves against:
- York
- Stockton
- Christopher Newport
- RIT
kept Salisbury alive during several postseason battles.
Biggest Wins of the Season
Salisbury 15, Gettysburg 12
One of the early statement victories came against nationally ranked Gettysburg.
The Sea Gulls showcased:
- elite ball movement
- transition offense
- physical defense
The win immediately established Salisbury as a national title contender.
Salisbury 10, York 7
York entered the matchup ranked inside the national top 10.
Salisbury’s defense completely disrupted York’s offensive rhythm while the Sea Gulls controlled possession late.
CLC Championship: Salisbury 10, Christopher Newport 9 (OT)
The defining moment of the season came in the conference championship.
Salisbury erased a late deficit before winning in overtime against fourth-ranked Christopher Newport.
The Sea Gulls showed:
- championship composure
- defensive toughness
- clutch finishing
That victory secured another NCAA Tournament berth.
NCAA Tournament Run
NCAA Second Round
Salisbury 18, Stockton 5
Salisbury dominated Stockton in one of the team’s most complete performances of the season.
Key contributors:
- Bret Bergey
- Connor Herraiz
- Preston Huffman
- Trent Lucovich
The defense completely overwhelmed Stockton’s offense from the opening quarter.
NCAA Third Round
RIT 12, Salisbury 11 (OT)
The season ended in heartbreaking fashion.
RIT survived an overtime thriller after Salisbury battled back repeatedly throughout regulation.
Final Score:
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| RIT | 12 |
| Salisbury | 11 |
Salisbury finished the year 16-4 after one of Division III lacrosse’s toughest schedules.
Toughest Losses
Lynchburg 14, Salisbury 11
The Sea Gulls suffered an early-season wake-up call against Lynchburg.
Despite the loss, the game helped sharpen Salisbury defensively heading into conference play.
Jim Berkman’s Program Still Sets The Standard
Few programs in Division III athletics match Salisbury’s consistency.
The Sea Gulls once again:
- won 16 games
- captured another conference title
- earned another NCAA berth
- defeated multiple top-10 teams
Under Berkman, Salisbury continues operating as one of Maryland’s most respected athletic dynasties.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 season did not end with a national championship, but Salisbury once again proved why the Sea Gulls remain one of the nation’s premier lacrosse programs.
Between:
- Connor Herraiz’s offensive leadership
- Bret Bergey’s scoring
- Blake Malamphy’s faceoff dominance
- Collin Fohner’s goaltending
- another elite postseason run
the Sea Gulls delivered another memorable spring on the Eastern Shore.
And with the amount of returning talent expected next season, Salisbury likely will enter 2027 right back in the national championship conversation.
