MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Northwestern has been selected to win the 2021 Midwest Lacrosse Conference championship according to the preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Eagles earned 20 total points and three first-place votes, to claim the tiebreaker over Monmouth in the preseason poll.

Monmouth also received 20 points, while Cornell was third with 18 points and two top nods.

Beloit was fourth with 16 points and the final first-place vote, and Northland was fifth with nine points. North Central will not compete this season.

The MLC'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. 

2021 MLC Preseason Poll
1. Northwestern (3), 20 points
2. Monmouth, 20 points
3. Cornell (2), 18 points
4. Beloit (1), 16 points
5. Northland, 9 points 

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