SEATTLE – It lost in the conference title game last spring, but Montana is the favorite to capture the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL) Division II crown in 2019 according to the preseason coaches poll released on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies (12-4) grabbed five of the 12 first place votes to narrowly edge out defending conference champion College of Idaho (10-3) by a point. The Yotes were awarded six first-place votes.

Gonzaga (4-6) and Western Washington (8-5) tied for third in the 12-team league with 104 points each, although Gonzaga grabbed the final first-place vote.

Judging by the poll, the PNCLL North division will be the toughest one to navigate with four of the top five team coming from that side of the two-division conference.

2019 PNCLL Division II Preseason Coaches Poll

* - Seattle University is a member of the PNCLL this spring, but is not eligible for the postseason nor the preseason poll