Michigan State captured its first-ever MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour last spring and, not surprisingly, the Spartans are the favorites in the newly formed Continental Lacrosse Conference (CLC) according to the preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.
Michigan State (18-1), which closed out the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA) with seven consecutive championships before the CCLA was combined with the Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League (PCLL) to form the CLC, were the unanimous choice. The Spartans grabbed all 10 first-place votes.
Following the Spartans and rounding out the top four are three former PCLL outfits. Boston College (10-5) was in the second spot with 36 points followed by Northeastern (7-5) with 44 and New Hampshire (7-4) with 46.
The CLC-I will consist of five-team East and West divisions, with the winners of each divisional playoff meeting to determine the winner of the automatic qualifier to the 2019 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will be held in Salt Lake City from May 6-11.
2019 Continental Lacrosse Conference Division I Preseason Coaches Poll
PLACE TEAM POINTS 1st VOTES
1. Michigan State 10 10
2. Boston College 36
3. Northeastern 44
4. New Hampshire 46
5. Davenport 49
6. Connecticut 52
7. Western Michigan 72
8. Pittsburgh 74
9. Buffalo 75
10. Central Michigan 100
2019 CLC Division II Preseason Coaches Poll
A year after qualifying for the MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour for the first time in program history, Central Connecticut State has been tabbed the favorite in the newly formed Continental Lacrosse Conference (CLC), according to the preseason coaches poll.
The Blue Devils (12-5) grabbed six of the eight first-place votes to keep them four points clear of conference heavyweight Bridgewater State (7-6). The Bears had a pair of first-place votes.
New Haven (11-5) pocketed the remaining first-place votes to set up shop in the third position. Rhode Island (1-8), which moves to Division II this spring after operating in Division I for much of its existence, rounds out the top four.
The CLC will adopt the now defunct PCLL’s method of determining its qualifier to the 2019 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour: regular season champ.
There will still be a six-team conference tournament, but it will not determine the AQ.
PLACE TEAM POINTS 1st VOTES
1. Central Conn. State 11 6
2. Bridgewater State 15 2
3. New Haven 23 1
4. Rhode Island 35
5. Stonehill 44
6. WPI 48
7. Westfield State 54
8. Bridgeport 56
9. Southern Conn. State 63
10. Worcester State 66
11. Framingham State 73
