Coaches Rank SU Sixth in Preseason Poll
2/11/2010 3:03:31 PM | Women's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse is ranked No. 6 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) preseason poll. The Orange garnered 286 points in the poll and is one of three teams from the BIG EAST Conference ranked in the top 10.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Gary Gait, Syracuse is coming off its most successful two-year period in school history. During that span, the Orange has won two BIG EAST regular-season titles, one conference tournament crown, earned the program's highest ranking and made the school's first appearance in the national semifinals.
Syracuse returns two All-Americans and four All-BIG EAST honorees from last year's squad that finished the season with a 14-5 record. Senior Christina Dove earned second-team All-America accolades after leading the team with 59 goals. She was the BIG EAST Co-Midfielder of the Year and led the league with seven game-winning goals. Senior Halley Quillinan was an All-America Third Team pick, marking the third consecutive season she has earned All-America honors. Quillinan ranked third on the team in scoring in 2009 with 52 points.
The defensive unit will be led by junior Liz Hogan and senior Lindsay Rogers. Hogan was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the league in goals-against average for the second consecutive season. Rogers, who was voted to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, set a single-season school record with 56 draw controls.
Five-time defending national champion Northwestern is ranked No. 1 in the poll, followed by Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Duke. BIG EAST foes Georgetown (No. 7) and Notre Dame (No. 8) joined the Orange in the top 10.
The Orange opens the 2010 season on Friday, Feb. 19 against Colgate in the Carrier Dome at 4 p.m.
