MINNEAPOLIS – The most power-packed conference tournament MCLA Division II has ever witnessed begins on Friday, April 20, with the commencement of the six-team Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC) tournament in Mahtomedi, Minn.

The top six teams in the country will be in attendance to determine which program will walk away with the automatic qualifying berth to the 2018 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will be held in Salt Lake City from May 7-12.

UMLC DIVISION II TOURNAMENT BRACKET

St. Thomas (10-1, 2-0) out of the East division and North Dakota State (7-1, 2-0) from the West – the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the country, respectively – have earned byes into Saturday’s semifinals.

In the first round on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., West No. 2 St. John’s (8-4, 1-1) will tangle with East No. 3 Dayton (4-5, 0-2) in a rematch of a March 9 contest won by the Johnnies, 13-9. The winner draws St. Thomas.

Friday’s early game at 5 p.m. will feature East No. 2 Grand Valley State (6-3, 1-1) battling West No. 3 Minn.-Duluth (9-4, 0-2). The two teams met this past weekend in South Barrington, Ill., with the Lakers taking home a 6-4 victory. The winner of this semifinal will get NDSU.

“The UMLC has been the best Division II conference in the country all season, so our tournament is going to be fantastic,” said UMLC director and St. John’s coach Derek Daehn. “Any of our six teams could walk away with the title.”

Admission for each of the three rounds of games is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors over 60. Children under 5 are free. Mahtomedi High School, located northeast of the Twin Cities, will be the site of the tournament.

2018 UMLC Division II Tournament

First Round – Mahtomedi, Minn. – Friday, April 20
Game 1: No. 3W Minn.-Duluth vs. No. 2E Grand Valley State, 5 p.m.
Game 2: No. 3E Dayton vs. No. 2W St. John’s, 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals – Mahtomedi, Minn. – Saturday, April 21
Game 1 winner vs. No. 1W North Dakota State, 12 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. No. 1E St. Thomas, 3 p.m.

Finals – Mahtomedi, Minn. – Sunday, April 22
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.