2016 MCLA Snapshots: UMLC
The numbers game caught up with the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference this spring, creating a two-team Division I component and a loaded eight-team Division II outfit that could legitimately send four squads to the 16-team MCLA National Tournament powered by Under Armour.
Minnesota and Iowa State will carry the flag for the UMLC-I, which will obviously operate without the luxury of an automatic qualifier this spring. Both the Golden Gophers and Cyclones would likely have to run the table to stay in the at-large discussion.
Division I’s loss is Division II’s gain, as three teams – led by a Minn.-Duluth team that defeated several ranked D-I squads in ’15 – bump down into a league that already sent three teams to nationals last spring. North Dakota State is the favorite to take down the division followed by perennial national participants St. Thomas and St. John’s.
These teams will beat themselves up along the way, but the possibility of having four UMLC teams advance to SoCal is very real.
Players to Watch
Division I
Niklas Damberg, Soph., Midfield – Minnesota
Eric Fong, Sr., Attack – Minnesota
Division II
Brooks Armitage, Jr., Attack – St. John’s
Logan Lindberg, Sr., Midfield – Minn.-Duluth
Andrew Markland, Sr., Defense – North Dakota State
Pat Mines, Sr., Long-stick middie – St. Thomas
Division II Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank |
School |
Points |
First place votes |
1 |
North Dakota State |
47 |
5 |
2t. |
St. Thomas |
38 |
1 |
2t. |
St. John's |
38 |
|
4 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
37 |
2 |
5 |
MSU-Mankato |
23 |
|
6 |
Winona State |
21 |
|
7 |
St. Cloud State |
11 |
|
8 |
North Dakota |
9 |
|