PITTSBURGH – A year removed from a national championship and a quarterfinalist in 2017, Dayton has been selected as the preseason favorite in the three-team Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA) Division II race in a vote taken at the fall conference meeting.

Dayton (15-3) edged out Grand Valley State (10-7) for the top spot despite the Lakers advancing to title game of the 2016 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour. Only a fourth-quarter rally by St. Thomas kept GVSU from recording its second championship in three years.

Grove City (7-5) rounded out the preseason poll. The Wolverines qualified for the MCLA tournament in 2016, bowing to Reinhardt in the first round. This will be Grove City’s final season in the CCLA as it transitions to NCAA Division III in 2018.

With only three teams, CCLA-II will not have an automatic qualifying bid to the MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour in 2017, although all of its members will be eligible for an at-large berth. Despite no AQ, the top two teams in CCLA Division II will meet to determine a conference champion on April 29 at a site to be determined.

CCLA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Dayton
2. Grand Valley State
3. Grove City