Wheeling, W. Va. - The 2025 season was a historic year for the Wheeling University Men's Lacrosse team as they made the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) postseason for the second time in program history, advancing to the semifinal round. On Thursday, the team officially released their 2026 schedule, with 14 games on the slate. The Cardinals will take Bishop Schmitt Field six times in the spring as they look to not only get back to the GMAC Tournament, but to compete for the program's first-ever GMAC Title.

The 2025 season kicked off with a bang, with the team taking on #14 ranked Chestnut Hill and, despite the loss, they used the lessons they learned the rest of the season. After taking down Holy Family for their first win of the season, they opened GMAC play with an impressive 7-6 win over Davenport. They would end up splitting their first eight conference games, and found themselves right in the thick of the MEC Tournament hunt at 4-4 heading into late April. They would round out the conference schedule with wins over Malone and Davis & Elkins as they grabbed the #4 seed in the GMAC Tournament. They would welcome in #5 Davenport for their Quarterfinal matchup and earn their first ever home playoff win. However, their run would come to an end as they traveled to the eventual GMAC champions Seton Hill, falling 29-4 to bring their season to an end.

After getting a taste of success last season, the Cardinals will look to get back to that level as they gave another challenging non-conference stretch to start the year. They open up at home for the first time since the 2023 season when they host Tusculum on February 2^nd. However, that will be the Cardinal's only home game during the month of February, as they hit the road for each of the next four contests. They officially open their road schedule against Lincoln Memorial on February 7^th, before taking a two week break before facing Davenport on February 28^th. The Cardinal will open March with a return trip to the USA Lacrosse Facility in Sparks, Maryland for their only neutral site game of the season. They will take on Holy Family in their non-conference finale on March 7^th as they round out their week of training during Spring Break. They wrap up their road trip with the 2026 GMAC opener against Lake Erie on March 14^th.

After going on the road for four of their first five games, the Cardinals close out March with their longest time stretch of the season. The run begins with a rematch of last year's GMAC Semifinal match with Seton Hill on March 17^th. It will be a four-game home stand for the Cardinals that will include all GMAC opponents during the stretch. The Cardinals will see Thomas More (3/21), Northwood (3/27), and Point Park (4/1) along the way as they begin postseason stretch run. After a long home stand, Wheeling will go on the road for four of their last five matches as they try to clinch a playoff spot. They will battle Tiffin and Frostburg State on the road before coming home April 18^th to wrap up their home schedule. They will battle Malone on senior day as they send off the class of 2026 in style. The regular season schedule wraps up with two Road games at Walsh (4/18) and Davis & Elkins (4/21) to round out their season.

The Wheeling University Men's Lacrosse team will open the 2026 season on Monday, February 2^nd, when they take on Tusculum.