MINNEAPOLIS – Defending conference champion Minnesota has been declared the favorite to repeat in the Division I portion of the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC), according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Golden Gophers, which were 5-3 when the 2020 campaign concluded, snagged six of the eight first-place votes submitted.

Indiana sits in the second chair with one first-place vote. The Hoosiers, which were 3-2 last spring, lost to Minnesota in the UMLC semifinals in 2019.

Missouri snapped up the remaining first-place vote to ease into the third position.

Miami (Ohio) and conference runner-up Purdue round out the top five of this 10-team league.

2021 UMLC Division I Preseason Coaches Poll