The tournament only hosted 8 teams in the first two years. BYU becomes the first ever USL MDIA (later, MCLA) champion.
The OT championship game in '98 is actually the ONLY MCLA championship that went into overtime. The ending of that game is on YouTube — watch the OT win by Cal in all its 1998 video-quality glory.
The tournament expanded to 12 teams, with the lower seeds playing a First Round game and the higher seeds taking a bye into the quarters. This was Simon Fraser's only appearance in the finals and CSU's first championship.
Still 12 teams. At #6, BYU is the lowest seed to have ever won the MCLA tournament. This is the only time that BYU and CSU played in a finals game — somewhat surprising, since they have played in so many.
CSU gets their second title, beating the lowest seed to ever play in the championship game, with Stanford making it all the way to the end as a #12 seed.
Months before officially changing their mascot from the Cossacks to the Seawolves, Sonoma State won their first and only title. This was the first year that the #1 seed actually won the tournament.
CSU becomes the first team to win 3 championships. This was the third title for MCLA legend Alex Smith and one of the better defenses the MCLA has ever seen. The name Mark Plonkey still sends shivers down the spines of those who played him.
The last year in St. Louis for the tournament, where it had been held every year prior. UCSB came in as heavy favorites and didn't disappoint, snagging their first of 2 championships.
In Blaine, Minnesota (where we mercifully stayed for only 1 year) UCSB becomes the first back-to-back champion. It snowed. Between the RMLC tourney and the national tourney CSU was declared ineligible — they would have been a top 3/4 seed.
The first year in Texas for the tournament. CSU and CU meet for the first time in the finals, with CSU pulling off the 1-goal win. This was the last of 4 titles for legend Flip Naumburg, who passed the reins to Alex Smith in 2010.
Some people writing this thread might call this the greatest tournament ever played. BYU won its third title. CSU's 14–0 win over ASU is the only shutout in tournament history.
Michigan's reign of terror begins. They complete the first undefeated season in MCLA history and become the first team that wasn't in the WCLL or RMLC to win the title. The finals were played in Cowboy Stadium — the field, surprisingly, was awful.
Michigan put together back-to-back undefeated seasons, a feat we may not see repeated again. Michigan then started making great videos that the rest of us were really jealous of but tried not to show it. That Chapman team was really good.
After having their plans for a third undefeated season spoiled by CU in one of the biggest upsets in MCLA history, Michigan regrouped and took care of business to win their 3rd straight title. The tournament moved to Denver — the weather ruined it, but the venue was awesome.
After nearly pulling off the upset a year earlier in the championship game, Arizona State put an end to Michigan's run, beating them in what would be UM's last MCLA game before going DI. BYU won their 4th title, tying CSU (briefly) for the most.
The tournament moved across the country to Greenville, South Carolina. CSU won their 5th title with the best defense we've ever seen in the MCLA. Their 3.75 GAA in the tournament is the lowest ever for a champion.
If 2012 CSU wasn't the best defense we've ever seen, then it was the 2013 Rams. CSU and CU met for the second time in the championship game and the Rams held the Buffs to just 2 goals, the lowest in finals history.
The tournament shifted to Irvine, California. Colorado finally got over the hump and took home their first championship, beating #1 ASU 13–12. This kicked off a run of 3 years with first-time MCLA champions and signaled the growing parity at the top.
GCU stopped CU's repeat bid in the finals. Carson Barton and Dean Fairall were one of the best 1-2 punches in MCLA history and both went on to play professional lacrosse. This was a very good GCU team. The VT/CU semifinal was all-time.
Chapman finally gets over the hump and wins their first title in their 3rd finals appearance. Chapman was able to win the championship game in their home venue, which was probably pretty awesome.
A championship game rematch of the last two champions ended up with GCU winning their second title in 3 years. #9 Chapman became the lowest seed to play in the championship game since 2011 after posting upsets in each of the first three rounds.
We moved to SLC, UT and much of the buzz headed into the tourney was around undefeated Utah, who had announced they would be going DI. BYU upset the Utes and Michigan State completed a dominant week with a win over Chap to win their first title.
The Gamecocks put together a dominant performance — their closest game was a 3-goal win over Chapman in the semis. South Carolina became the first East Coast team to win the MCLA championship.
The MCLA hosted an Invitational instead of a tournament for the teams that were able to play. BYU won the Invitational in commanding fashion.
Back in the winner's circle three years after their first crown, the Gamecocks take title No. 2 — this time over Georgia Tech.
Concordia becomes the MCLA's newest first-time champion, running past Virginia Tech in the final.
BYU rolls to championship No. 6, drawing level with Colorado State for the most all-time.
Liberty wins its first national championship — the first ALC program to take the crown.
BYU stands alone: a record seventh national championship.