ST. LOUIS -- After a hiatus in 2019, the Washington (Mo.) University men's lacrosse team is anticipating a run to its first Lone Star Alliance Division II championship in 2020.

With fall ball practices and scrimmages in full swing, the team is fully prepared to take on any challenge that comes its way.

WashU will play an 11 game schedule, consisting of six conference games, MCLA Division II runner-up Dayton while also competing in four contests against UMLC Division I programs (Illinois, Illinois State, Iowa State, and Missouri).

The season starts off in February with an early contest against Mizzou before the Bears head to New Orleans to face Tulane, Louisiana and Southeastern Louisiana.

"The team brings back eight of our 10 starters, and with an incoming class of 16 freshman and one grad student, we fully expect to come into February prepared to play to the best of our ability," said team president Kelton Clarke. "Our captains have been pushing everyone to the max at every practice, and with the majority of our players coming from lacrosse hotbeds across the country, our stick skills and our ability to mesh as a team are unmatched.

"Our younger players will be relied on heavily, but have already proven their ability to compete against anyone in practices and scrimmages that have happened thus far."

Washington University will finish off the spring season with a highly anticipated game against Missouri State on April 4 before going into LSA playoffs. The Bears are hopeful for an MCLA National Championships berth in May.

2020 Washington (Mo.) University Men's Lacrosse Schedule