WAUKESHA, WI -- Aurora was picked to win the 2014 Midwest Lacrosse Conference (MLC) title according to the preseason coaches' poll released Wednesday.

The Spartans (16-4, 10-0 MLC) earned the MLC title and tournament championship last season, claiming the top spot in the poll with 111 points and 10 first place votes.

Augustana (11-6, 8-2 MLC) finished second in the poll with 97 points and the final first place vote, while Carthage (15-4, 9-1 MLC) also tallied 97 points.  Both the Vikings and Red Men participated in the 2013 MLC tournament.

Concordia (Wis.) (9-7, 6-4 MLC) finished fourth in the poll with 83 points, while 2013 MLC tournament participant Mount St. Joseph (10-8, 7-3 MLC) finished fifth (69 points).

 Benedictine (6-9, 4-5 MLC) placed sixth in the poll with 68 points and was followed by Hanover (5-11, 3-7 MLC) with 59 points.

Elmhurst (3-10, 1-8 MLC) (44 points), Fontbonne (8-8, 4-6 MLC) (39 points) and Milwaukee School of Engineering (0-12, 0-9 MLC) (24 points) finished eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.

Defiance College (0-15, 0-8 MLC) rounded out the poll in 11th place with 27 points.

The 2014 season opens on February 7.  The MLC portion of the schedule will begin on March 1 with the MLC tournament slated for April 30 and May 3.

2014 MLC Coaches' Preseason Poll