Fitchburg State Picked Fifth In NEWLA Pre-Season Poll
The Fitchburg State women’s lacrosse team was picked fifth overall this afternoon as New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Commissioner, Louise McCleary announced the 2010 Pre-Season Coaches Poll.
Fitchburg State Picked Fifth In NEWLA Pre-Season Poll
Falcons collect 31 points in 2010 Coaches Poll
FITCHBURG, Mass. (February 23, 2010) - The Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team was picked fifth overall this afternoon as New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Commissioner, Louise McCleary announced the 2010 Pre-Season Coaches Poll.
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Two-time defending champion Bridgewater State was selected as the women's lacrosse preseason favorite of the NEWLA in a vote conducted by the league's coaches. The Bears received seven first place votes for a total of 63 points. Bridgewater State, one of only two institutions to have won a NEWLA championship since 1998, returns eleven starters including the 2009 NEWLA Defensive Player of the Year of the Year Erin Quimby and 2008 NEWLA Offensive Player of the Year Shannon Manning.
Castleton State, which finished 6-1 in league play a season ago, received one first place vote and 56 points. The Spartans return eight starters including 2009 Offensive Player of the Year Marie VanDerKar as well as first-team all-conference selection and NEWLA Academic Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nicole Adams.
This year, Fitchburg State will look to make significant strides within the NEWLA as it begins only its third season at the NCAA Division III level. Last season, head coach Rick Terrio led the Falcons to program record six wins, including a 3-4 mark in the conference. Senior Emily Swan (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) returns as the Falcons leading scorer from a year ago (74 points), while sophomore Amanda Burns (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) returns as the reigning NEWLA Rookie of the Year.
Fitchburg State will kick-off its 2010 campaign on Monday, March 15th as it participates in the 2010 "Spring Fling" located in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Falcons will battle Curry College on the 15th before wrapping up their southern trip with Manhattanville College (3/17) and Husson College (3/18) respectively.
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2010 NEWLA Pre-Season Coaches Poll | |
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1. Bridgewater State (7) |
63 points |
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2. Castleton State (1) |
56 points |
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3. Westfield State |
48 points |
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4. Worcester State |
37 points |
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5. Fitchburg State |
31 points |
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6. Framingham State * |
28 points |
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7. Becker |
16 points |
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8. Elms |
9 points |
* This is Framingham State's first season with the conference. They competed as an independent in 2009.