KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Madonna University men's lacrosse team is back in the national conversation after their 22-1 sophomore season, falling in the National Championship game to No. 1 Reinhardt University. The Crusaders and head coach Mike Walter are returning the majority of last years team aside from Connor Humitz, looking for another shot at the national title.

According to the national polls released by the NAIA on Jan. 29, the Blue and Gold are tabbed as the number one seed in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and second in the Coaches Preseason Top 10 poll, both of which are the highest preseason rankings in program history. Madonna garnered 77 points in the poll. The Crusaders will open the 2019 season with a scrimmage against Michigan State University on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Madonna Athletics Complex with face-off slated for 1:00 p.m.

Indiana Tech is slated as the number two seed in the WHAC as well as fourth in the top ten seeding, finishing 13-3 last season and earning 69 points in the voting. Siena Heights (60 points) and Lawrence Tech (43 points) are ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, while Lourdes (23 points) and Aquinas (9 points) are receiving votes.

The two-time defending national champion Reinhardt (Ga.) tops the poll with 82 points, claiming all seven first place votes in the process.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated groups.

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