MINNEAPOLIS – St. Thomas, the five-time MCLA Division II national champion and last year’s runner-up, was the consensus top team in the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC) Division II preseason coaches poll.

The Tommies (15-3) swept all six first place votes, placing them comfortably atop the poll.

Grand Valley State (9-5), which has appeared in three of the last four national semifinals and won the title in ’14, is ranked second. The Lakers, along with Dayton, join the UMLC this spring after being long-time members of the CCLA.

North Dakota State (9-6), a national semifinalist last year, was slotted third just ahead of St. John’s (7-8). Minn.-Duluth (9-7) and Dayton (10-5) round out the six-team poll.

All six of the UMLC programs qualified for the 2017 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour and all finished the season ranked in the Top 8 of the final weekly poll.

UMLC Division Preseason Coaches Poll