Florida, Still No. 1 in MCLA Division I Coaches Poll, Faces Stiff Test on Saturday

ATLANTA — For the third straight week, Florida is atop the MCLA Division I New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll, but the Gators will get a stiff test this weekend to remain at No. 1.

Florida (12-1), which grabbed 23 of the 27 first-place votes, will have to clash with No. 5 Georgia Tech (11-3) on Saturday afternoon in the SELC tournament at the Bolles School in Jacksonville.

If the Gators survive that contest, they will have either No. 3 Georgia (12-1) or No. 14 — and two-time defending national champion — South Carolina (7-8) awaiting them in the conference finals on Sunday.

Virginia Tech (12-2) remains at No. 2 after dismantling NC State to finish the regular season and has a bye into the ALC semifinals at Lynchburg City Stadium on April 29.

The Hokies have three first-place votes and appear to be on a collision course with No. 4 Liberty (12-2) for the ALC championship. The Flames grabbed the remaining top vote.

Chapman (13-2) continues its climb up the charts, moving into sixth this week after routing a pair of former top 15 teams over the weekend.

Simon Fraser (8-0), the only undefeated team left in MCLA Division I, finally cracked the top 10 this week and will look to finish a perfect regular season when the Red Leafs host No. 23 Boise State in British Columbia on Friday night.

There were no new additions to the poll this week.

NEW BALANCE MCLA
DIVISION I COACHES POLL

Receiving votes: Auburn (35), Colorado State (27), Texas Christian (18), Missouri (11), Southern Methodist (9), West Virginia (7), New Hampshire (2), Santa Clara (1), Sonoma State (1).