Catholic Favored to Repeat in Landmark Conference

from press release

1.) Catholic (45 voting points)

2.) Drew (32)

3.) Goucher (26)

4.) Scranton (23)

5.) Susquehanna (15)

6.) Moravian (9)

MADISON, N.J. - The defending Landmark Champion The Catholic University of America's women's lacrosse  team has been picked as the favorite in the Landmark Conference this year as selected in the Landmark Preseason Women's Lacrosse Poll. The head women's lacrosse coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsors the sport were polled for the preseason ballot.

Catholic picked up each first-place vote in the balloting to accrue 45 points and earn the top spot. Drew University earned the second spot in the polling with 32 points. Goucher College and The University of Scranton were third and fourth respectively in a tight voting that saw Goucher earn 26 points and Scranton finish with 23.

Catholic went unbeaten in the Landmark last season and reached the NCAA quarterfinals to finish 17-5 overall. Reigning Landmark Player of the Year and All-America Kate Robinson is one of four returning All-Conference picks for the Cardinals as the team brings back four of its top-five scorers from last year's team.

The Rangers went 10-8 on the year in 2009 and advanced one round in the ECAC postseason and also qualified for the Landmark postseason with a 3-2 record. The Rangers must replace eight departed players, two of them All-Conference picks, but Landmark Rookie of the Year Stacie Brown returns as do three other Rangers who earned All-Conference status as freshmen.

Goucher reached the Landmark Championship match and finished 6-10 overall and 4-1 in Landmark play during the regular season. First team All-Conference goalkeeper Brittany Foster is one of three returning All-Conference choices for the Gophers. The team lost just three seniors overall, though two were All-Conference players and the team's top goal scorers.

Scranton posted a 1-4 record in Landmark play and worked to an 8-8 overall record for the season. Three of their four Landmark losses were by three goals or less, and the team brings back all four of its All-Conference players, who were all second-team choices. Leading scorer Caroline Pryor is one of 10 returning starters for the Royals.

Susquehanna University placed fifth in the poll with 15 points and will be under the direction of new Head Coach Laura Moan this season after going 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the Landmark and earning the fourth seed for the conference postseason. The team will be young in 2009 as only four starters return, though one of them is All-Conference defender and senior Cindy Wilson (West Chester, Pa./Henderson).

Moravian College rounded out the voting with nine points to place sixth. The Greyhounds went 9-7 overall in 2009, which established a new program record for wins in a season, but did not come up with a win in Landmark play as they posted an 0-5 record. The team lost one of its two All-Conference picks, but welcomes back starting goalie Courtney Rosenberg who was a second-team All-Conference honoree.

Preseason favorite Catholic will be the first Landmark team in action this spring when it hosts Adrian on Feb. 22. Conference play will begin on Saturday March 23 as Catholic hosts Moravian.