ATLANTA — For the seventh consecutive week, it’s Rhode Island atop the MCLA Division II New Balance Weekly Coaches Poll that was released on April 19.
The Rams (11-1), which have outscored their last seven opponents 129-37, grabbed 19 of the 27 first-place votes cast this week. Rhode Island has one final game left on the docket — a clash with Division I UConn on Sunday — before heading to conference tournament play.
Cal State San Marcos (12-1) remains hot on the Rams’ tail after rallying for a 15-11 victory against No. 9 UC San Diego (10-2) over the weekend. The Cougars, who are one of the top seeds in the SLC tournament, grabbed the remaining eight first-place votes.
No. 3 Montana State (10-1), which crushed No. 19 College of Idaho, remains at No. 3 and has already picked up a top seed in the RMLC playoffs that commence on April 28 in Fort Collins, Colo. No. 4 St. Thomas (7-2) rolled to three comfy wins over the weekend and just have to close out archrival and No. 18 St. John’s (4-4) on Friday to ensure one of the top seeds in the UMLC playoffs that occur in Loves Park, Ill., from April 28-30. No. 5 Montana (15-2) has wrapped up its regular season and is the top seed in the PNCLL playoffs, starting April 29 in Lake Oswego, Ore.
Miami (5-6) departed the poll this week to make way for No. 23 Northern Arizona (9-3).