Men's Lacrosse picked to finish second in MLC Preseason Poll

WAUKESHA, Wis. -- Concordia Wisconsin was picked to finish second in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Preseason Poll, according to the league's head coaches.

Aurora was picked to win the league after sharing its fifth-consecutive MLC title last year with Concordia Wisconsin with a 7-1 league record. The Spartans (18-3) won the MLC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Concordia Wisconsin (13-6) earned a share of the MLC title for the first time in program history during the 2017 campaign with a 7-1 record. They also advanced to the MLC Tournament Championship game for the third consecutive time.

Aurora received nine of the 10 first-place votes and 81 total points in the preseason poll. The other two defending co-champions, Concordia Wisconsin and Beloit, were second and third in the poll with 71 and 67 points, respectively, and a first-place vote for the Buccaneers.

MSOE was fourth with 53 points, Benedictine fifth with 52 and Cornell sixth with 40. Monmouth was seventh with 33 points, followed by league-newcomer Marian in eighth with 24. Concordia Chicago and Fontbonne rounded out the final two spots in the poll with 16 and 13 points.

The MLC's regular season standings determine the teams that qualify for the four-team conference tournament, while the tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. 

2018 MLC Preseason Poll
1. Aurora (9), 81
2. Concordia Wisconsin, 71
3. Beloit (1), 67
4. MSOE, 53
5. Benedictine, 52
6. Cornell, 40
7. Monmouth, 33
8. Marian, 24
9. Concordia Chicago, 16
10. Fontbonne, 13 

First-place votes in parentheses
Voted by the conference's head coaches, who could not vote for their own team
9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point scale used