Emerson Tops Women's Lacrosse Pre-Season Poll

Courtesy of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference

Natalie West

Director of Communications

Emerson College, the winner of the 2009 GNAC Women's Lacrosse Championship, has been selected as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse preseason favorite in a vote conducted by GNAC coaches.  St. Joseph's Maine was edged to second place by one point, while Norwich, the 2010 GNAC Champions, took third. Lasell earned a fourth place ranking, Mount Ida took 5^th while Simmons College rounded out the rankings in 6^th place in the 2011 preseason poll.

1.       Emerson (64)

2.       St. Joseph's ME (63)

3.      Norwich   (59)

4.       Lasell (46)

5.      Mount Ida (39)

6.       Simmons (34)

#1 Emerson College

This marks the second consecutive season that Emerson has been predicted to finish top of the conference. The Lions notched a 2^nd place finish in the GNAC last season with a record of 8-6 overall and 8-1 in conference play. First year Head Coach Paul Habel will lead the Lions in their 2011 campaign.

Returning from the 2010 squad is two-time GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Conference selection Meaghan Ross. Ross ranked in the top in nearly every statistical category in the GNAC last season including 3^rd in the GNAC for total goals (65), 2^nd for total assists (19) and 3^rd in points per game (6.46). Also returning for Emerson are First Team All-Conference players Amy Gervis and Katie Dodge, and Second Team All-Conference goalkeeper Emily Saeger.

Emerson begins their season on March 6^th against Occidental College in Los Angeles California at 1:00pm.

#2 St. Joseph's College of Maine

Saint Joseph's Maine finished the 2010 season with a record of 10-4-1 overall and a conference record of 7-1 with their only loss to Emerson College. Although losing All-Conference selection, Lauren Hagerman, to graduation the Monks look to a highly experienced returning squad to lead the team to a top finish in 2011.  

The Monks will be led by senior captains Alyssa Marchant, Megan Cutter, and Taylor Allison. First-Team All-Conference selection, Alyssa Marchant, will return as the Monks offensive leader. Marchant scored 61 goals last season and accumulated 71 ground balls. Cutter will return as one of the Monks top midfielders and Allison will return to goal. Allison posted an 11.08 goals against average with a .448 save percentage in 926 minutes between the pipes in 2010. Also returning for St. Joe's is Second Team All-Conference honorees Erika Waterhouse and Casey Monoghan.

Saint Joseph's will kick off the 2011 season with a game at Maine-Farmington on March 22nd at 4:30 PM.

#3 Norwich University

Norwich concluded the 2010 season with a remarkable win in the GNAC Championship to take the league title over top seeded Emerson College. The Cadets finished their season with an overall record of 9-8 and a conference record of 7-1. Norwich lost Defensive Player of the Year, Ally Allen to graduation, but have several key returners to make up for their loss on defense.

Leading the 2011 team are last year's First-Team All-Conference selections Kacey Abbriano and Kelly Pickel. Abbriano will anchor the midfield after having a remarkable 2010 season topping several GNAC statistical categories while also being named the Tournament MVP.  Last season, Pickel was ranked 1st in the GNAC in save percentage, 4th in goals against average, and 7th in saves per game. Also returning for the Cadets are Second-Team All-Conference selections Suzanne Whitaker, Danielle Del Dotto and Mollie Fitzpatrick.  

Norwich will open their season on March 22^nd at Westfield State at 4:00pm.

#4 Lasell College

The Lasers finished the 2010 season with an overall record of 8-8 and a conference record of 3-4. Under the helm of new Head Coach Caitlin Connolly, Lasell looks to have another successful season with several key players returning. Leading the 2011 squad is senior captain, April McGrath who will return as the Lasers' anchor on defense. The Lasers' will look to the duo of senior Tina Cavanan and sophomore Ashley Slattery to provide the offensive attack. Cavanan finished the 2010 season with 56 goals and 12 assists while Slattery earned 43 goals, 12 assists and was named the 2010 GNAC Rookie of the Year.

Lasell begins their season on March 5^th against Westfield State at 2:00pm.

#5 Mount Ida College

Mount Ida will be looking to improve off of their 8-6 overall record and a conference record of 4-4 in their inaugural year in the GNAC. Although 2010 marked their first season in the conference, they managed to earn a tournament berth and have three players named to the GNAC First-Team All-Conference; all of whom will be returning. Included in those all-conference honorees is junior attacker Jen Thompson who led not only the conference in goals (82) last season but also all of Division III. Also returning for the Mustangs is senior Danielle Chuba, who was ranked close behind her teammate in D.III in goals scored with 60; and defender Becky Tisbert, who ranked 2^nd in the GNAC with caused turnovers per game.  The team will be led by tri-captains Danielle Chuba, Alexandra Sarno, and Brittany Strout.

The Mustangs will begin their season on March 8^th at Curry College at 4:00pm.

#6 Simmons College

Simmons College is looking to improve their 2010 record in their third season as a varsity sport under new head coach Amanda Maxwell. Coming off of a 6-6 overall record and 4-4 in conference play, the Sharks will look to a young but experienced squad of underclassmen. The Sharks will be led by captains Jen Szkolt at defense, Meaghan Maurice at attack and Lee Sutherland at midfield.

The Sharks start their season on March 16^th at Wellesley College at 4:30pm.