SAN FRANCISCO – They finished as the runner-up last spring in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League’s (WCLL) Division I, but the conference coaches believe Cal Poly is the team to beat in 2024, according to the preseason poll.

The Mustangs (8-6), which beat conference champion UC Santa Barbara (9-6) during the regular season before falling in the WCLL title tilt, grabbed three of the seven first-place votes.

Cal Poly narrowly edged out the defending champion Gauchos. UCSB also were awarded three first-place votes, but came up two points shy of the Mustangs, logging in at No. 2 in the preseason poll.

California (7-7), which was eliminated from the conference tournament by UCSB in the semifinals, are seated third.

Sonoma State (7-7) fell to Cal Poly in the WCLL semifinals and are at No. 4 in the poll.

2024 WCC Division I Preseason Coaches Poll