BALTIMORE – After advancing to the national championship game for the third straight season last spring, Chapman has been tabbed as the top team in MCLA Division I according to the Inside Lacrosse preseason rankings.

The Panthers get the top spot ahead of No. 2 Michigan State. The Spartans defeated top-seeded Chapman in the title game of the 2018 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, 10-8.

South Carolina and Brigham Young, who both qualified for the national semifinals in ’18, were slotted third and fourth, respectively. A talented Cal outfit rounded out the top five.

The SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) was well-repped in the Top 10 with No. 6 Liberty, No. 7 Virginia Tech and No. 8 Georgia Tech bolstering the league.

No. 9 Colorado and No. 10 Grand Canyon fill out the top half of the poll.

These 20 and others will all by vying for an invitation to the 2019 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will take place in Salt Lake City from May 6-11 at the Regional Athletic Complex.

Inside Lacrosse also highlighted five student-athletes as Preseason Player of the Year candidates.

Michigan State’s Bennett Osterink, Chapman’s Wiley Bonham, Oklahoma’s Nick Johnston, Grand Canyon’s Cam Wengreniuk and Brigham Young’s Chandler Wescott were all highlighted.

Inside Lacrosse MCLA Division I Preseason Top 20
20. Florida
19. UC Santa Barbara
18. Minnesota
17. Northeastern
16. Georgia
15. Texas A&M
14. Boston College
13. Oregon
12. Arizona State
11. Florida State
10. Grand Canyon
9. Colorado
8. Georgia Tech
7. Virginia Tech
6. Liberty
5. California
4. Brigham Young
3. South Carolina
2. Michigan State
1. Chapman

Division I Preseason Player of the Year Candidates
Bennett Osterink, Jr., Attack – Michigan State
Wiley Bonham, Jr., Attack – Chapman
Nick Johnston, Sr., Goalie – Oklahoma
Cam Wengreniuk, Sr., Attack – Grand Canyon
Chandler Wescott, Jr., Attack – Brigham Young