ST. LOUIS -- The Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRLC) will have a vastly different look this spring in Division II with seven teams departed and two added. This new iteration will have Washington (Mo.) University as its favorite, according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Bears (5-6) are followed by Missouri State (6-5) in second place. Because of the previous structure of GRLC-II that featured four divisions, Wash U. and Missouri State did not meet last year.

Saint Louis (3-9) and Creighton (0-7) round out the top four in the poll.

With the departure of Missouri Valley, which won the last three GRLC championships, and DePaul (the 2013 champion), Washington (Mo.) is, in theory, the defending GRLC champion. The Bears won the 2012 title.

GRLC Division Preseason Coaches Poll