NEW YORK – The 2019 BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll was unveiled today with two-time championship runner-up Denver unanimously selected to win the crown. The Pioneers boasted five Preseason All-BIG EAST Team selections, along with BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Kennedy Milburn. Denver collected all 25 possible points in the poll to edge out back-to-back regular-season runner-up Georgetown. The Hoyas totaled 21 points and five Preseason All-BIG EAST selections. Led by BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Grace Gabriel, Marquette was slotted third with 16 points, followed by Villanova in fourth with 14. New to the fold this year, affiliate member Old Dominion was picked fifth with eight points, while Butler rounded out the poll in sixth with six points. The BIG EAST preseason poll and awards are based on a vote of the league’s head coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own team or players.
Entering its third season as a BIG EAST affiliate member in the sport of women’s lacrosse,
Denver finished 6-3 in conference play last year before advancing to the championship title game for the second consecutive year. The Pioneers earned an NCAA at-large selection after finishing runner-up in the league tournament, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship to finish 13-7 on the year. Three of Denver’s five Preseason All-BIG EAST selections were unanimous picks, including Milburn, senior attacker Julia Feiss and sophomore attacker Quintin Hoch-Bullen. Junior midfielder Molly Little and senior defender Maddie Baum were also honored. The Pioneers were one of two BIG EAST teams in the IWLCA Preseason Poll, coming in at No. 19, while Georgetown was tabbed No. 22. Both received votes in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll.
Milburn led a Denver defense which surrendered just 9.11 goals per game over nine BIG EAST contests, the second-stingiest mark in the league. Four conference opponents were limited to single-digit goals. Over 20 games on the year, Milburn totaled a team-high 42 ground balls to go along with a Denver-best 21 caused turnovers.
Georgetown went 8-1 in BIG EAST play last season to finish in second place and earn the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Championship. The Hoyas fell to third-seeded Denver in the semifinals, but earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Championship for their first appearance since 2014. GU fell in the first round to finish 2018 with a 12-7 overall mark. Three of the Hoyas’ Preseason All-BIG EAST selections were unanimously chosen – senior attacker Taylor Gebhardt, junior midfielder Natalia Lynch and senior midfielder Francesca Whitehurst. Gebhardt led Georgetown with 65 points of a team-high 53 goals, while Lynch post team highs in ground balls (34) and draw controls (81). Whitehurst was injured after eight games on the year, but had 17 points through those first eight contests. Senior goalkeeper Haelle Chomo and sophomore defender Mollie Miller were also Preseason All-BIG EAST Team picks.
Coming off its first BIG EAST Championship appearance,
Marquette went 10-8 overall last year and 6-3 in BIG EAST play to tie for third in the standings. The win totals, both overall and in league, were program bests. Gabriel earned IWLCA All-America Second Team honors after totaling 56 goals over 18 games for a 3.11 goals per game average. She added 11 assists on the year for a 3.72 points average. Gabriel is the top returning goal scorer in the BIG EAST, while also being the top returner in shots (7.39), draw controls (5.94) and caused turnovers (1.72). Gabriel was a unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST selection and was joined on the team by sophomore defender Jocelyn Miller and senior attacker Cate Soccadato. This season, Marquette will serve as host of the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep for the first time.
Villanova finished fifth in the BIG EAST standings last season with a 4-5 mark and went 9-7 on the year. Unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST Team honoree Katie Comerford is the top returning point earner from 2018 as she averaged 4.06 per game off of 32 goals and 33 assists. The assists average (2.06) is second to only MU’s Soccadato. VU’s 6.94 assists per game average led the BIG EAST last season, while its 15.12 draw controls average ranked third. Redshirt-senior midfielder Devin Hassinger joined Comerford on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
Entering its first season as an affiliate member for BIG EAST women’s lacrosse,
Old Dominion went 5-13 overall and 2-3 in the ASUN. Top returners include senior attacker Sophia Richie, who totaled a team-high 35 goals, and junior attacker Glory Johnson, who posted a team-best 49 points off 33 goals and 16 assists. Glory was a 2018 ASUN First Team All-Conference honoree.
Going into its third season of collegiate lacrosse action,
Butler went 1-16 a year ago and returns its top two scorers. Sophomore attacker Ashley Guerra totaled 32 points off 21 goals and 11 assists, while redshirt-senior attacker/midfielder Haley Hallenbeck matched Guerra for the team lead with 21 goals, while adding four assists, 22 draws and 11 ground balls.
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Denver 25 (5)
2. Georgetown 21 (1)
3. Marquette 16
4. Villanova 14
5. Old Dominion 8
6. Butler 6
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Grace Gabriel, Marquette, Sr., M
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kennedy Milburn, Denver, Sr., D
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Maddie Baum, Denver, Sr., D
Julia Feiss, Denver, Sr., A*
Quintin Hoch-Bullen, Denver, So., A*
Molly Little, Denver, Jr., M
Kennedy Milburn, Denver, Sr., D*
Haelle Chomo, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Taylor Gebhardt, Georgetown, Sr., A*
Natalia Lynch, Georgetown, Jr., M*
Mollie Miller, Georgetown, So., D
Francesca Whitehurst, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Grace Gabriel, Marquette, Sr., M*
Jocelyn Miller, Marquette, So., D
Cate Soccadato, Marquette, Sr., A
Devin Hassinger, Villanova, R-Sr., M
Katie Comerford, Villanova, Jr., A*
*unanimous selection