WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference released the results of its preseason coaches' poll on Monday. Illinois Tech was selected to finish fifth out of the league's fourteen teams.
The Scarlet Hawks received 118 total points in the poll, ranking the team behind defending champion Hamline University (160 points, 11 first-place votes), Augsburg University (156 points, two first-place votes), Concordia University Wisconsin (141 points), and Aurora University (138 points, one first-place vote). The MWLC's regular season standings determine the teams that qualify for the four-team conference tournament, while the tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championship Tournament.
2019 MWLC Preseason Poll
1. Hamline (11), 160
2. Augsburg (2), 156
3. Concordia Wisconsin, 141
4. Aurora (1), 138
5. Illinois Tech, 118
6. Cornell, 89
7. Loras, 86
8. Wartburg, 85
9. Concordia Chicago, 76
10. Beloit, 60
11. Northwestern, 53
12. Benedictine, 38
Marian, 38
14. Monmouth, 36
The MWLC has expanded for the 2019 season, welcoming University of Northwestern (Minnesota) and Marian University into the conference. The Scarlet Hawks are coming off of a season in which the team posted a record of 8-7 overall and 7-4 in the MWLC, tying the team for fourth place in the league.
Tech will open the 2019 season on Saturday, March 9 at NCAA Division II Davenport University. The conference schedule opens four days later at Monmouth University before the team's home opener on Friday, March 15 at 6:00 p.m. against Concordia University Wisconsin. Live audio, video, and stats will be available for all 2019 home contest, with the live audio powered by Illinois Media School.