MINNEAPOLIS – The Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC) Division I membership features 11 teams this spring and Minnesota has been targeted as the team to beat, according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Gophers posted 114 points while snagging four of the 11 first-place votes to sit in the first chair.

Michigan State, which joined the UMLC from the Continental Lacrosse Conference (CLC) this spring, is slotted second. The Spartans grabbed five first-place votes, leaving them three short of Minnesota’s total points.

Indiana and Western Michigan round out the top four in the league, with both the Hoosiers and Broncos being awarded one first-place vote apiece. Western Michigan is also new to the conference in 2022.

The next tier features Purdue – just three points back of WMU – Miami (Ohio), Illinois and Illinois State.

Iowa State, newcomer Central Michigan and Nebraska round out the poll.

The UMLC will have an automatic qualifying berth in the 2022 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance. The event will be held at the Round Rock (Texas) Multipurpose Complex from May 9-14.

2022 UMLC Division I Preseason Coaches Poll