MINNEAPOLIS – The five-team Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference tournament, featuring four teams ranked in the Top 8 in the country, gets under way on Friday, April 28 with a champion crowned on Sunday, April 30.

The champion of the Division II conference earns an automatic bid to the 2017 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will be held in Orange County, Calif., from May 8-13. The UMLC does not have a tournament in Division I.

On the strength of victories against nationally-ranked No. 1 St. Thomas and No. 4 North Dakota State to end the season, No. 8 Minn.-Duluth grabbed the top seed and will face the winner of the St. John’s-MSU-Mankato first round contest in Saturday’s opening semifinal at Mahtomedi High School.

The first round contest between St. John’s and Mankato will occur on Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul.

Defending conference champion and No. 1 St. Thomas will battle No. 4 North Dakota State in the second semifinal at 3 p.m. at Mahtomedi. The semifinal winners will meet at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

“The UMLC is the only conference in the MCLA that can legitimately boast four national championship-caliber programs,” said UMLC director Pete Moosbrugger. “This tournament will once again give a good indication of who is ready to win a national title in two weeks.”

Admission to the games is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors (65+). Only cash or check will be accepted.

2017 Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament -- (Bracket)

April 28 – First Round – St. Paul, Minn.
#5 MSU-Mankato vs. #4 St. John’s, 7 p.m.

April 29 – Semifinals – Mahtomedi, Minn.
#5/4 winner vs. #1 Minn.-Duluth, 12:30 p.m.
#3 North Dakota State vs. #2 St. Thomas, 3 p.m.

April 30 – Finals – Mahtomedi, Minn.
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.