MCLA DI Preseason Top-25 Poll
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport Men's Lacrosse team, which made the move from Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division 2 to Division 1 last season, will begin their second year at the D1 level ranked No. 22 in the preseason poll. The Panthers have one of the strongest schedules in the country featuring five opponents ranked inside the Top-25 including road matches at No. 1 Colorado State and No. 2 Colorado.
Davenport, ranked 22nd, is one of three Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA) teams ranked in the preseason poll. Michigan State, ranked 7th, and Pittsburgh, ranked 25th, are also representing the CCLA in the polls.
Last season, Michigan State defeated Pittsburgh 10-9 in the CCLA Championship game to earn an automatic bid to Nationals. In the National Tournament, the Spartans fell to eventual runner-up Colorado 9-2 in the second round.
Pittsburgh and Davenport were just on the outside looking in as the final tournament bracket was released.
The only other non-CCLA team that will appear on Davenport's schedule is No. 15 Minnesota Duluth who will pay a visit to Grand Rapids April 4. DU will also face off against MCLA DII No. 4 Grand Valley State.
DU will also face six other foes who are receiving votes in the preseason poll including home matches against Purdue (3/1), Indiana (3/2), Illinois (3/9) and Minnesota (4/20). Other teams in the receiving votes section for DU are UNLV and Liberty.
Colorado State, who defeated Colorado 7-2 in the MCLA D1 Championship game last season, comes into the season ranked number one. The Buffaloes follow their inter-state rival at No. 2 and the top-5 is rounded out by Arizona State, BYU and Chapman.
Men's Lacrosse Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-554-5045 | asagraves@davenport.edu
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