Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Valley College men's lacrosse team was selected as the No. 1 team in the KCAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Wednesday. The Cougars, who are competing in their inaugural season, were picked to finish sixth in the KCAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Missouri Valley finished the season with a 14-2 overall record, capturing a second-straight KCAC regular season championship and a second-straight KCAC Postseason Tournament title.  Missouri Valley also put 12 of its student-athletes on the KCAC All-Conference Team, led by Offensive Player of the Year Sophomore Midfielder Ryan Barnes and Defensive Player of the Year Senior Defender Andrew Legg. Four Vikings were named to the NAIA Men's Lacrosse All-America Team, led by Barnes, who was named the National Player of the Year.

The University of Saint Mary was selected second in the preseason poll after an 8-9 overall and 4-1 KCAC record last season. The Spires return KCAC Second Team selections, Matthew Waeckerle and Cory Wunderlich. Waeckerle was second on the team in 2017 with 39 total goals, 15 assists, and 54 points. Wunderlich scored 36 goals, four assists, and 40 points in 14 games last season.

The Cougars got off to a great start in their inaugural campaign as they defeated the Lindenwood University – Belleville (Ill.) Lynx by a final score of 14-1 on Saturday. They were led by Sam Crum who finished with five goals and two assists and Carson Morrissey who scored three goals.

The lacrosse team is back in action on Saturday, March 10^th when they play host to Johnson and Wales (Colo.) University in a nonconference matchup. The game is set to start at 1 p.m. on R. Marvin Owen's Field.