Dec. 4th, 2002 - Cossacks give way to Seawolves but Sonoma State Tabbed to Repeat; Defending national champions picked #1 in USL MDIA Preseason Poll
Sonoma State University starts off the 2003 campaign exactly where they left off at the conclusion of the 2002 season as the number one pick in the US Lacrosse Men's Division Intercollegiate Associates Preseason Poll. The reigning National Champions, who underwent a nickname change this past summer, collected 17 first place votes and 733 total points (out of a possible 750 points) to earn the top spot in the poll released today. The Colorado State Rams are on the Seawolves heels', just as they were in the 2002 national championship game. The Rams garnered 12 nods for the top spot and 716 points to rank second in the poll.
Another RMILL (Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Lacrosse League) team, Brigham Young nabbed the third spot totaling 684 points and collecting the final first place vote. California-Santa Barbara from the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) lands in the 4th spot with 688 points. Following the Gauchos are the University of Michigan Wolverines, 2002 champions of the CCLA (Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association), in 5th place earning 619 points.
The WCLL lands its 3rd team in the top 6 with the Wildcats of Arizona (16-5) at number 6 with 602 points. Attention turns east with the number 7 spot going to Auburn University. The two-time defending SELC (SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference) champion Tigers earned 551 points, 56 ahead of yet another WCLL member, the Cardinal of Stanford University. Simon Fraser University is ranked 9th and hopes to recapture the PNCLL (Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League) championship after a one year absence. Rounding out the top ten are the Virginia Tech Hokies with 435 points from the SELC.
The University of Texas from the Lone Star Alliance (LSA) leads off the second ten. The Longhorns are trailed by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the 12th spot. Another LSA perennial contender, the Texas A&M; Aggies hope #13 is a lucky number in 2003. CCLA member University of Buffalo lands in the #14 spot. Following the Bulls is the University of Colorado at the #15 slot from the RMILL.
The Golden Bears of California are tabbed for #16 in the nation followed by #17 the University of Florida Gators. The two-time defending UMLL (Upper Midwest Lacrosse League) champion University of Minnesota-Duluth holds down the #18 ranking, ahead of Washington University of St. Louis, MO at #19. The Bears are the preseason pick to win the inaugural season of the GRLC (Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference), the 9th member conference of the USL MDIA.
Next come the University of New Hampshire Wildcats at #20, the defending champions of the PCLL (Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League). The Wildcats are followed closely by the #21 UCLA Bruins, the 7th team from the WCLL to land in the preseason top 25. Former CCLA contender, The University of Illinois Fighting Illini placed #22 in the poll. Illinois is poised to challenge for the inaugural GRLC title next April along with Washington University and Missouri.
The defending PNCLL champion University of Washington Huskies hold down the 23rd spot. The Huskies are trailed in the poll by the CCLA's Oakland University (24th slot). Rounding out the 2003 Preseason Top 25 is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference.
Click here to view the entire preseason poll.
The US Lacrosse Men's Division Intercollegiate Associates Top 25 poll is conducted biweekly by 30 voters throughout the spring season. The USL MDIA season will conclude with the 7th annual National Championship Tournament in St. Louis, MO. May 8th-11th. Past National Champions include Sonoma State (2002), Colorado State (2001, 1999), BYU (2000, 1997), and Cal (1998).
The USL MDIA consists of 158 collegiate club teams in one of nine recognized conferences from coast to coast who compete at the virtual varsity level. These programs voluntarily adhere to NCAA regulations such as eligibility, equipment, and game rules to promote a level playing field across the country.
The USL MDIA is comprised of 9 conferences: Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA), Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRLC), Lone Star Alliance (LSA), Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL), Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League (PCLL), Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Lacrosse League (RMILL), SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC), Upper Midwest Lacrosse League (UMLL), and the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL).
For more information on the USL MDIA, please visit the USLIA web site at www.uslia.com.
US Lacrosse, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, is the national governing body of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information on US Lacrosse, call 410/235-6882 or visit www.lacrosse.org.