March 12, 2008

Wolverines Grab Top Spot in Latest MCLA Poll

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The University of Michigan Men's Lacrosse team was named the #1 team in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association this week when the third Lax World MCLA Division I Top-25 Poll of the year was announced on Wednesday morning.  Michigan earned 28 first-place votes, and jumped six spots after being slotted in at #7 two weeks prior.  A new MCLA Top-25 poll is released every two weeks. 

After winning their first five games of the season, including road wins against four top-10 teams, and wins over previously #1 Brigham Young and #3 Minnesota-Duluth, the Wolverines possessed a solid resume headed into the second regular-season poll of the year. Second-place Colorado State received eight first-place votes, #3 Chapman University received two votes, and fifth-place Oregon also earned two votes (BYU was in fourth place, but received no first place votes). 

This is the Wolverines' third trip to the top of the rankings in the past three years.  In 2006, the Wolverines earned a #1 ranking late in their regular season after defeating CCLA opponent Oakland University in late April, and last year, took the top spot after a 7-0 start through late March.  In both instances, the Wolverines suffered a set-back shortly after.  In '06 the squad lost two weeks later to Michigan State in the semi-final round of the CCLA Championship, and in '07 lost to Arizona State in their very next game.

The Maize and Blue will look to reverse that trend when they travel to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan this Friday night at 7:30pm EST to battle CCLA opponent Central Michigan in each team's first conference game of the year.

For the entire poll, go to CollegeLax.us

Contact:  Joe Hennessy - jjhennes@umich.edu - 734-276-8493