Throughout the 2026 season, the nation’s top man-down units consistently shut down opposing extra-man opportunities, killing penalties through disciplined rotations, active sticks, timely slides, and outstanding goaltending. Whether protecting a one-goal lead or swinging momentum back in their favor, these teams excelled when playing a man short. Leading the nation was Concordia Wisconsin, which finished the season with an incredible 91.5% man-down defense. The Falcons surrendered just four extra-man goals on 47 opponent opportunities, setting the national standard in DeeThreeLax Close behind were DePauw (90.3%), Nazareth (90.2%), and Randolph-Macon (89.8%), with all four programs holding opponents below a 10 percent conversion rate on the extra-man.

Programs like Rivier, Christopher Newport, Salisbury, RIT, Hope, and Grove City all combined strong regular-season performances with outstanding man-down units that limited opponents’ chances to capitalize on penalties. Every man down kill not only prevented a goal, it shifted momentum and often sparked transition opportunities going the other way.

Communication, trust, and execution are what separate elite penalty-killing units. The programs atop this list consistently rotated with precision, closed passing lanes, pressured shooters, and received timely saves from their goalkeepers. Those fundamentals allowed them to thrive against some of the nation’s most dangerous extra-man offenses.

DeeThreeLax 2026 Team Stats Man-Down Defense 

• Concordia Wisconsin – 91.5% (4 EMO goals allowed, 47 opponent opportunities)
• DePauw – 90.3% (6 GA, 62 opportunities)
• Nazareth – 90.2% (5 GA, 51 opportunities)
• Randolph-Macon – 89.8% (5 GA, 49 opportunities)
• Rivier – 87.4% (12 GA, 95 opportunities)
• MSOE – 84.9% (8 GA, 53 opportunities)
• Franklin & Marshall – 83.3% (7 GA, 42 opportunities)
• Beloit – 83.1% (10 GA, 59 opportunities)
• UMass Boston – 82.6% (12 GA, 69 opportunities)
• Augustana (IL) – 82.1% (7 GA, 39 opportunities)
• Illinois Wesleyan – 82.0% (11 GA, 61 opportunities)
• Calvin – 81.8% (6 GA, 33 opportunities)
• Trinity (CT) – 81.6% (9 GA, 49 opportunities)
• Saint Joseph (CT) – 81.6% (14 GA, 76 opportunities)
• St. Joseph’s (L.I.) – 81.1% (7 GA, 37 opportunities)
• SUNY Geneseo – 81.0% (16 GA, 84 opportunities)
• Endicott – 81.0% (12 GA, 63 opportunities)
• Hartford – 81.0% (8 GA, 42 opportunities)
• Pitt.-Bradford – 80.6% (7 GA, 36 opportunities)
• Plymouth State – 80.5% (16 GA, 82 opportunities)
• Christopher Newport – 80.3% (12 GA, 61 opportunities)
• Muskingum – 80.0% (17 GA, 85 opportunities)
• Roanoke – 80.0% (14 GA, 70 opportunities)
• Carthage – 80.0% (11 GA, 55 opportunities)
• Trine – 80.0% (11 GA, 55 opportunities)
• Clarkson – 80.0% (7 GA, 35 opportunities)
• Keene State – 79.7% (16 GA, 79 opportunities)
• Clark (MA) – 79.3% (6 GA, 29 opportunities)
• Norwich – 79.2% (15 GA, 72 opportunities)
• University of New England – 79.0% (13 GA, 62 opportunities)
• North Central (IL) – 78.7% (10 GA, 47 opportunities)
• Alfred State – 78.7% (16 GA, 75 opportunities)
• Southern Virginia – 78.6% (15 GA, 70 opportunities)
• LaGrange – 78.6% (6 GA, 28 opportunities)
• Westminster (PA) – 78.3% (15 GA, 69 opportunities)
• Montclair State – 78.3% (10 GA, 46 opportunities)
• Oberlin – 78.2% (17 GA, 78 opportunities)
• Hope – 77.8% (16 GA, 72 opportunities)
• Goucher – 77.8% (14 GA, 63 opportunities)
• Oswego State – 77.6% (13 GA, 58 opportunities)
• Salisbury – 77.1% (16 GA, 70 opportunities)
• Grove City – 77.0% (17 GA, 74 opportunities)
• RIT – 76.9% (21 GA, 91 opportunities)
• Spalding – 76.8% (19 GA, 82 opportunities)
• WestConn – 76.8% (16 GA, 69 opportunities)
• Thomas (ME) – 76.7% (20 GA, 86 opportunities)