ATLANTA – After winning its first MCLA Division I national championship last spring, South Carolina has been installed as the favorite in the 2020 New Balance Division I Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released on Wednesday.

The Gamecocks (21-2 in 2019) captured 19 of the 24 first-place votes to retain a 14-point edge over their closest competition. South Carolina will open the season in Baton Rouge, La., with games against No. 25 LSU (7-8) and Texas A&M (2-0 in 2020).

California (17-1), which fell to South Carolina in the 2019 title game, is comfortably in second place. The Golden Bears grabbed the remaining five first-place votes and were 28 points clear of third-ranked Chapman (17-3).

In Division II, St. Thomas has been tabbed the favorite in the 2020 New Balance Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released on Wednesday.

The Tommies (11-4) snagged 21 of the 23 first-place votes, keeping them well ahead of second-ranked Dayton (12-4). The Flyers lost to St. Thomas in last year’s championship game.

Minn.-Duluth (12-2) – the top-ranked squad heading into the 2019 postseason – sits in the third chair while North Dakota State (7-8) follows in fourth. College of Idaho (14-1), which broke through to the semifinals last year, rounds out the top five.

To compare to US Lacrosse Magazine's MCLA rankings, click here for Division I and here for Division II.

MCLA 2020 New Balance Division I Preseason Coaches Pol​l

MCLA 2020 New Balance Division II Preseason Coaches Pol​l