HCLC

1. Transylvania
2. Hanover
3. Earlham
4. Spalding

Transylvania

Head Coach: Logan Otto 

Conference: 

2025 Overall Record: 11-6

 2025 Conference Record: 4-0 

Key Losses:

•  Ben Marcum – Defense – 22 CTs, 33 GBs
•  Alex Madison – Midfield – 17 CTs, 33 GBs, 24 Points
• Cole Brinkley – Defense – 12 CTs, 14 GBs, 3 Points

Key Returners:

•  Andrew Welch – Attack – 33 Goals, 22 Assists, 55 Points 
•  Huck Campbell Midfield – 26 Goals, 24 Assists, 50 Points 
•  Jack Miller – Midfield – 35 Goals, 9 Assists, 44 Points 
• Josh Harney – Midfield – 23 Goals, 7 Assists, 30 Points 

Games That Will Test This Team Early: 

•  Kenyon
•  Sewanee
•  Hope

DeeThreeLax Take: Transylvania coming off another strong season in 2025 where they went 11-5, won the conference and made the NCAA Tournament. In 2026 this group will look to continue building and pushing deeper into the NCAA tournament. I think they are almost a lock to win the HCLC title in 2026. With that being said they will need fill some big gaps on the defensive side of the field this year as they look to have lost a lot of production from last season. The offense will look to pick up right where they left off last season and put up a ton of points. Should be another good year for the group at Transylvania. 

Hanover

Head Coach: Michelangelo Butturi

Conference: HCLC

2025 Overall Record: 11-4

 2025 Conference Record: 3-1

Key Losses:

• Owen Parker – Midfield – 37 Goals, 29 Assists, 66 points
• Alex Kleinhelter – Attack – 32 Goals, 22 Assists, 54 Points
• Scott Dues – Defense – 35 CTs, 42 GBs, 12 Points
• Lance Guttormson – Goalie – 138 Saves, 61% save %

Key Returners:

• Colin O’Brien – Attack – 51 Goals, 10 Assists, 61 Points
• Ethan Abdoo – Attack – 25 Goals, 14 Assists, 39 Points
• Kasey Hospelhorn – Midfield – 20 Goals, 12 Assists, 32 Points
• Leonard Hughes- Defense – 27 CTs, 70 GBs
• Jost Adams – defense – 22 CTs, 22 GBs

Games That Will Test This Team Early: 

• Wabash
• Franciscan
• Bethany

DeeThreeLax Take: Hanover will look to put together another strong season and will almost all but likely be the number two seed in the HCLC conference. They have a strong out of conference schedule to get them going this season and help build momentum going in HCLC play. But the big question remains can Hanover close the gap with Transylvania and push for a HCLC title in 2026?

Earlham

Head Coach: Taylor Lanzillo

Conference:

2025 Overall Record: 6-9

 2025 Conference Record: 2-2

Key Losses:

• Elijah Gamber – Attack – 25 Goals, 5 Assists, 30 Points

Key Returners:

• Robbie Gift – Attack – 33 Goals, 19 Assists, 52 points
• Ryan Polack – Midfield – 11 Goals, 11 Assists, 22 point
• Liam McGlynn – LSM – 40 CTs, 80 GBs, 12 Points
• Ethan Upton – Defense – 39 CTs, 57 GBs, 6 Points
• Elijah Adamson – Defense – 27 CTs, 50 GBs, 1 Point

Games That Will Test This Team Early: 

• Cornell College
• Hiram
• Alma

DeeThreeLax Take: Earlham looks like they are returning most of their impact players on both ends of the field from the 2025 campaign which should bode well for this group in 2026. I expect this team to put together an improved season this year. Their final two games last year were against Hanover, and both games proved to be challenge but I expect the 2026 Earlham team to close the gap with Hanover and push for a potential number 2 seed in the conference. 

Spalding

Head Coach: Kurt Ohlen

Conference: HCAC

2025 Overall Record: 1-13

 2025 Conference Record: 0-4

Key Losses:

• Eli Teater – Midfield – 10 CTs, 89 GBs, 2 Points
• Hank Ohlen – Midfield – 4 CTs, 9 GBs, 6 Points

Key Returners:

• Nicolas Guzman – – 18 Goals, 5 Assists, 23 Points 
• Giovanni Distasio – Attack – 16 Goals, 5 Assists, 21 Points
• Xzayvyon Isom – Midfield – 14 Goals, 6 Assists, 20 Points
• Leroy Mclever – Defense – 11 CTs, 12 GBs 

Games That Will Test This Team Early: 

• Beloit
• Wilmington
• La Roche

DeeThreeLax Take: Spalding won the final game of the 2025 season and will look to carry that momentum into 2026 and improve on their 1-13 season last year. Spalding looks to be returning their top 3 point leaders from a season ago which should help give them a good boost in 2026. There is definitely a road to improvement this year for Spaulding but they will need to find their groove early in the season and continue to improve throughout the season.