Women's Lacrosse selected to finish eighth in MASCAC preseason poll

Westfield, Mass.— The Westfield State Owls have been picked to win the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship as voted on by the coaches from around the league.

 

The reigning MASCAC Tournament Champions, who were 6-1 in league play, had six first place votes for 48 points in this year's poll. Back for the Owls is All-Conference honoree Sydney Lambert who finished last season with 57 points on 43 goals and 14 assists. She also collected 50 draw controls, 30 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. 

 

Bridgewater State is next in second with two first place votes for 43 points. The 2017 MASCAC Regular Season Champions finished with a 7-0 record during MASCAC play last year. Elizabeth Ettridge netted 48 goals and 15 assists for 63 points last year. She also grabbed 19 ground balls, 12 draw controls and forced 11 turnovers on her way to All-Conference honors. 

 

Sitting in third is Framingham State with 36 points. The Rams were 5-2 last season. Returning is reigning MASCAC Rookie of the Year Grace Gamache. She was second in the league last season in goals scored with 48 plus six assists, 40 draw controls, 18 ground balls and five caused turnovers to earn All-Conference accolades. 

 

Grabbing 31 points for fourth is Fitchburg State. The Falcons claimed a 4-3 mark during league play last season. All-Conference defender Carrie Long is back for the team after netting 27 goals and seven assists for 34 points plus adding 94 ground balls, 56 draw controls and 88 caused turnovers. 

 

Next in fifth and sixth are Worcester State and Salem State with 25 points and 21 points, respectively. The Lancers had two wins during the 2017 conference season. Mackenzie Little had 47 goals and 11 assists for 58 points on the season. She also finished with 79 draw controls, 38 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers on her way to All-Conference honors. The Vikings had three wins during MASCAC play in 2017. Returning is Courtney Smith who led the team in goals with 42 while adding 12 assists, 34 ground balls, 30 draw controls and 12 caused turnovers. 

 

Closing out the 2018 poll in seventh and eighth are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA with 11 and nine points, respectively. Stephanie Hunt returns for the Buccaneers after leading the squad with 38 goals and 12 assists for 50 points while also collecting 13 ground balls and 13 draws. For the Trailblazers, Mackenzie Carter is back after finishing the 2017 season with 43 points on 34 goals and nine assists plus 40 ground balls, 24 draw controls and 12 caused turnovers. 

 

Bridgewater State kicks off their season on Saturday, February 24 with a non-conference contest while the other seven MASCAC institutions begin their schedule the following week with non-conference action.