MINNEAPOLIS— Lake Forest College has been selected to win the 2023 Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) championship according to the preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Foresters received seven first-place votes and 49 total points in the preseason poll. Lake Forest won the regular season title last season. 

Hamline was picked to finish second with 39 points and earned one first-place vote. The Pipers have won the past five conference tournament championships, which is a league record.

Northwestern was third in the poll with 36 points, Cornell was fourth with 34 points, Wartburg was fifth with 24 points, Augsburg was sixth with 23 points, Saint Benedict was seventh with 13 points, and Monmouth rounded out the poll with 10 points.

This marks the inaugural season for Saint Benedict, and first year in the league.

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 Tournament.

2023 MWLC Preseason Poll
1. Lake Forest (7), 49 points
2. Hamline (1), 39 points
3. Northwestern, 36 points
4. Cornell, 34 points
5. Wartburg, 24 points
6. Augsburg, 23 points
7. Saint Benedict, 13 points
8. Monmouth, 10 points

First-place votes in parentheses
Voted by the conference's head coaches, who could not vote for their own team
7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point scale used

Players to Watch (as chosen by the head coach)
Augsburg: Mackenzie Galazen, Sophomore, Midfielder
Cornell: India Smith, Junior, Defense
Hamline:   Taryn Leonard, Senior, Midfielder 
Lake Forest: Daulath Khan, Freshman, Attack
Monmouth:  Tori Cook, Junior, Midfield 
Northwestern:  Cara Smith, Junior, Midfielder
Saint Benedict: Chloe Lewis, Freshman, Goalie

-MWLC-