Orange Ranked 12th in Preseason IWLCA Poll

SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse Orange women’s lacrosse team is ranked 12th in the Preseason IWLCA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Poll released Feb. 21. Syracuse received 12 votes and a total of 112 points.

Defending national champion Virginia is ranked No. 1 with 299 total points. Princeton (286 points), Northwestern (260 points), Duke (256 points) and Georgetown, the 2004 BIG EAST Champion, (230 points) round out the top five. The Hoyas are followed by Johns Hopkins (213 points), Maryland (210 points), North Carolina (206 points), Loyola (178 points) and Dartmouth (149 points). Hofstra is ranked 11th (120 points), Syracuse, James Madison (104 points), New Hampshire (79 points) and Boston University (72 points) make up the top 15.

The Orange will play six teams ranked in the top 20 of the poll this season. Syracuse begins its slate of ranked opponents against Virginia on March 5 and square off at Georgetown on March 12. SU will also battle Loyola (April 9), Dartmouth (April 13) and Maryland (April 24). In addition, the Orange will play its final home game of the season against Notre Dame (April 30), which claimed 20th in the rankings.

Syracuse opens it 2005 campaign at home on Sunday, Feb. 27 against Albany.

The IWLCA’s preseason rankings are based on the votes of 20 Division I women’s lacrosse coaches from around the nation.

2005 IWLCA Preseason Rankings (NCAA Division I Women)

1. Virginia

2. Princeton

3. Northwestern

4. Duke

5. Georgetown

6. Johns Hopkins

7. Maryland

8. North Carolina

9. Loyola