SEATTLE – By a relatively slim margin, Montana has been chosen as the team to beat in Division II of the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL), according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Grizzlies snared five of the eight first-place votes, pushing them two total points clear of the College of Idaho.

The Yotes had the three remaining first-place votes.

Newcomer Northwest Nazarene settles into the third position, giving the impression the Nighthawks could make a splash in their first official season.

Western Oregon rounds out the top four spots in the poll.

Central Washington, Western Washington and Idaho sit in the second tier of the poll. Idaho moves from PNCLL Division I to Division II this spring.

Southern Oregon, Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran complete the poll.

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

2022 PNCLL Division II Preseason Coaches Poll