MCLA Recap for the Week Ending 2/27/23
Here’s the new polls for the MCLA DI and DII, as well as the SELC Players of the Week
via the MCLA press releases/website
SELC Players of the Week
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Each week, coaches in the SELC submit their nominations to the SELC awards committee for an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week to be recognized in both divisions. Below are the SELC Players of the Week for games played Feb. 20-26:
Division I
Offensive Player of the Week
Devin Raun, Georgia Tech – Senior, Attack
Collected two groundballs, two goals and one assist versus South Carolina and two groundballs, five goals and one assist against Clemson to sweep the weekend with wins.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jake Krefetz, Auburn – Junior, Faceoff Specialist
Against a Top 5 Florida squad, he won 21 faceoffs, including 12 groundballs and one assist.
Division II
Offensive Player of the Week
Dylan Polanski, Kennesaw State – Senior, Attack
Collected seven goals and one assist in wins over Division I opponents Vanderbilt and Missouri.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ramsey Morris, Miami – Junior, Goalie
Accumulated 15 saves in a win against Georgia Southern and had 18 saves against a Top 5 Division I program Florida State.
Honorable Mention
Chase Edwards, Florida Gulf Coast – Freshman, Faceoff Specialist
Beat Division I opponent Central Florida with 19 faceoff wins and 15 groundballs.
*****
FSU #3, UF #6 in Latest MCLA D1 Poll
ATLANTA – Virginia Tech assumed the top spot in the first New Balance MCLA Division Weekly Coaches Poll and has further solidified its grasp on the top spot in Week 2, which was released on March 1.
The Hokies (7-0) dismantled two more ranked teams this past weekend to expand its lead from 21 points to 26. Virginia Tech garnered 25 of the 27 first-place votes this week.
Behind the Hokies again this week is Georgia Tech (6-0), who own the remaining two first-place votes. Virginia Tech and the Rambling Wreck meet on Friday night in Atlanta in a massive Top Two showdown.
Florida State (5-0) remains at No. 3 after feasting on a couple of D-II outfits with Liberty (4-1) behind in fourth.
Despite Florida (5-1) defeating Auburn and Arizona (3-0) being idle, the Wildcats leapfrogged the Gators into the fifth chair.
This week’s poll features four new additions. San Diego State (3-0) zoomed up into the No. 16 slot while LSU (6-0) charged up the polls into a tie at 17 with Colorado State (2-2). No. 22 Southern Methodist (4-0) and No. 25 Boise State (2-0) also crack the Top 25.
USC (4-4), Utah (2-1), Dominican (3-3) and Texas (1-1) were issued their walking papers this week.
New Balance Division I Coaches Poll – Week 2
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1st VOTES |
| 1. | Virginia Tech | 673 | 25 |
| 2. | Georgia Tech | 647 | 2 |
| 3. | Florida State | 601 | |
| 4. | Liberty | 568 | |
| 5. | Arizona | 548 | |
| 6. | Florida | 514 | |
| 7. | UC Santa Barbara | 481 | |
| 8. | Concordia | 480 | |
| 9. | Boston College | 464 | |
| 10. | Brigham Young | 434 | |
| 11. | California | 399 | |
| 12. | Chapman | 385 | |
| 13. | Utah Valley | 331 | |
| 14. | Georgia | 306 | |
| 15. | Northeastern | 300 | |
| 16. | San Diego State | 193 | |
| 17t. | Colorado State | 152 | |
| 17t. | LSU | 152 | |
| 19. | Colorado | 150 | |
| 20. | South Carolina | 135 | |
| 21. | Grand Canyon | 125 | |
| 22. | Southern Methodist | 113 | |
| 23. | Cal Poly | 108 | |
| 24. | Oregon | 107 | |
| 25. | Boise State | 80 |
Receiving votes: USC (73), Utah (64), Simon Fraser (39), Texas (29), NC State (19), Arizona State (18), Dominican (18), Pittsburgh (17), Santa Clara (10), Michigan State (8), Texas Christian (7), Tennessee (7), Missouri (7), Texas State (4), Texas A&M (4), New Hampshire (3), West Virginia (2).
*****
FGCU #14, FAU #17 and Miami #19 in MCLA D2 Weekly Poll
ATLANTA – After taking down former No. 1 St. Thomas over the weekend, Montana has moved into the top spot in Week 2 of the New Balance MCLA Division II Weekly Coaches Poll, which was released on March 1.
The Grizzlies (5-0) handed the Tommies (2-1) their first loss of the season, 10-8, in a contest played in Minot, N.D. Montana was awarded 20 of the 27 first-place votes this week and is 19 points clear of the field.
Rhode Island (4-1) sticks in the second chair after an idle week. The Rams snagged five first-place ballots.
St. Thomas dips down to No. 3, but did manage to hang on to a pair of top votes despite the setback to Montana.
Grand Valley State (0-0) remains comfortably in fourth position as the Lakers await the season opener in nine days.
Kennesaw State (4-1) jumps into the No. 5 spot this week on the strength of two Division I road victories.
Bridgewater State (0-2) drops out of the poll to make room for No. 25 Western Washington (3-2).
All Division II eyes will be on Springfield, Mo., this weekend as No. 7 Missouri State (0-0) hosts No. 12 North Dakota State (1-1), No. 16 Dayton (0-0) and No. 17 Florida Atlantic (3-1) from March 3-5.
New Balance Division II Coaches Poll – Week 2
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | 1st VOTES |
| 1. | Montana | 653 | 20 |
| 2. | Rhode Island | 634 | 5 |
| 3. | St. Thomas | 629 | 2 |
| 4. | Grand Valley State | 544 | |
| 5. | Kennesaw State | 506 | |
| 6. | Utah State | 478 | |
| 7. | Missouri State | 468 | |
| 8. | UC San Diego | 447 | |
| 9. | UNC-Charlotte | 435 | |
| 10. | Cal State San Marcos | 426 | |
| 11. | Montana State | 388 | |
| 12. | North Dakota State | 350 | |
| 13. | Florida Gulf Coast | 344 | |
| 14. | Wake Forest | 322 | |
| 15. | College of Idaho | 302 | |
| 16. | Dayton | 295 | |
| 17. | Florida Atlantic | 217 | |
| 18. | UC Davis | 193 | |
| 19. | Miami | 190 | |
| 20. | Air Force Academy | 176 | |
| 21. | Minn.-Duluth | 149 | |
| 22. | St. John’s | 137 | |
| 23. | Coastal Carolina | 131 | |
| 24. | Northwest Nazarene | 121 | |
| 25. | Western Washington | 56 |
Receiving votes: Bridgewater State (38), Northern Arizona (37), San Diego (33), Georgia Southern (32), Utah Tech (15), Baylor (9), MSU Denver (6), Loyola Marymount (5), Washington-Mo. (4), North Florida (4), Chico State (1).
