YORK, Pa. -- Coming off of the program's eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team earned the No. 3 spot in the Capital Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and will open up the 2014 campaign on Saturday when the squad heads to Lexington for a 1 p.m. showdown with Washington & Lee.
Competing in the CAC for the first time this year, the Captains earned 52 points in the preseason poll. Salisbury, the reigning NCAA Champions, received eight first-place votes and 64 points overall. York earned the other first-place vote and received 54 points, while CNU, Mary Washington, and St. Mary's rounded out the top-five.
Earlier this month, the Captains placed 16th in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll, which marked the program's first-ever preseason national ranking.
Christopher Newport will put its rankings on the line on Saturday when the squad kicks off the 2014 season against Washington & Lee. Last season, CNU picked up its first victory against the Generals during a gripping 9-8 triumph at Captains Turf Field on February 23. Overall, Washington & Lee holds a 6-1 lead in the all-time series.
The Captains will be led by two-time USA South Player of the Year
Ashton Marshall, who is looking to cap off a decorated career in 2014. The senior standout tied the single-season program record with 76 goals last year and currently ranks fourth on CNU's all-time list with 239 career points.
Fellow senior
Jessica Singer will also provide a potent punch on the offensive end after ranking third on the squad with 41 goals last season. Defensively, the team will be headlined by
Emily Johnson,
Morgan Smith, and
Hanna Slough. Johnson and Smith combined to cause 34 turnovers in 2014, while Slough ranked seventh in the NCAA with a 7.04 goals-against-average.
Washington & Lee was picked as the preseason favorites in the ODAC after posting a 10-10 record in 2013. The Generals welcome back three All-Conference honorees, including third-team All-American Leanne Stone, who caused 25 turnovers and scooped up 57 ground balls last year. Fellow defender Olive Waxter will also anchor the back line, while midfielder Meade Brewster returns after scoring 37 goals during her junior campaign.
2014 CAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
|
1 |
Salisbury (8) |
64 |
|
2 |
York (1) |
54 |
|
3 |
Christopher Newport |
52 |
|
4 |
Mary Washington |
40 |
|
5 |
St. Mary's |
37 |
|
6 |
Marymount |
31 |
|
7 |
Frostburg State |
22 |
|
8 |
Wesley |
16 |
|
9 |
Southern Virginia |
8 |
---CNU---
