2/19/08 

ANNVILLE, Pa.- Lycoming College has been selected as the favorite to win the 2008 MAC women’s lacrosse championship, according to a poll of conference head coaches.

Lycoming landed five first-place votes and 67 total points to earn the top spot in the preseason ranking. The Lady Warriors went 14-4 overall and 8-3 in the MAC last season for third place in the conference.

Lycoming defeated Scranton 25-13 in the first round of the conference tournament, setting a school post-season scoring record. The Lady Warriors then lost a tight 14-12 game in the semi-finals to the eventual MAC champions Drew University.

After graduating just one senior last year, Lycoming added six newcomers to a roster of seasoned stars. Returning first-team regional All-Americans Megan Wallenhorst (senior, attack, 66 goals, 14 assist) and Sarah Wingerden (junior, midfield, 43 goals, 13 assists) will lead the blue and gold attack. Solid depth and talented youth will be keys to the 2008 Lady Warriors’ success.

Elizabethtown (13-4) and Messiah (7-9) were the only other MAC squads to receive first-place votes. E-town was selected second in the coaches’ poll with 65 votes and three first-place votes, while Messiah received 56 points and one first-place vote. In 2007, Elizabethtown went a perfect 10-0 in the conference, before falling to FDU-Florham, 11-10 in overtime, in the conference tournament.

2008 MAC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll

1. Lycoming                      67 pts. (5)

2. Elizabethtown                65 pts. (3)

3. FDU-Florham                 62 pts.

4. Messiah                        56 pts. (1)

5. King’s                           43 pts.

6. Widener                        39 pts.

7. Manhattanville                28 pts.

8. Wilkes                          25 pts.

9. Arcadia                         20 pts.