NEW YORK – Coming off its second straight BIG EAST Championship title, Denver was unanimously selected as the BIG EAST women’s lacrosse preseason favorite based on a vote of the league’s head coaches. The Pioneers received all six available first-place votes for a total of 36 points. Denver’s Lauren Black was picked BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while fellow Pioneer Sam Thacker was tabbed BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. A 15-member Preseason All-BIG EAST Team was also named. The preseason poll and awards are selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own team or players.
Following Denver in the poll was 2022 runner-up Georgetown, which earned 29 points and the remaining first-place vote. Coming off a BIG EAST Semifinal appearance, Connecticut was voted third in the poll with 26 points, followed by fellow semifinalist Marquette in fourth with 21. Villanova (fifth, 18 points), Butler (sixth, 11 points) and newcomer Xavier (seventh, six points) rounded out the poll.
Reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Thacker was selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior anchored the Denver defense that limited 14 of its 21 opponents to single-digit goals. Thacker led the league and nation in caused turnovers last season (3.05 per game, 64 total). She was named to the IWCLA All-America First Team last season and has been named to the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America First Team.
After garnering BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors in 2022, Black was picked as the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The sophomore attacker was the conference’s top scoring freshman last season and was the fifth-highest scoring freshman in Division I with 2.57 goals per game and 54 total goals. She was a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection last season and has been voted a Preseason All-American Honorable Mention by USA Lacrosse Magazine.
In addition to their major awards, Thacker (unanimous) and Black were voted to the 15-member Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Also recognized on the preseason squad were UConn’s Grace Coon, Ariana Kline, Lia LaPrise and Landyn White; Denver’s Ellie Curry and Julia Gilbert; Georgetown’s Erin Bakes, Tatum Geist and Nicole Massimino; Marquette’s Lydia Foust and Mary Schumar; And Villanova’s Caroline Curnal and Addie Fischer (unanimous).
The top four teams in the standings qualify for the 2023 BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Championship presented by JEEP. UConn will serve as host of this year’s conference tournament, which is slated for May 5 and 7 at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.
BIG EAST Preseason Poll
First Place Votes in ()
- Denver (6) 36 pts
- Georgetown (1) 29
- Connecticut 26
- Marquette 21
- Villanova 18
- Butler 11
- Xavier 6
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Lauren Black, Denver, So., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Sam Thacker, Denver, Sr., D
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Grace Coon, Connecticut, Gr., A
Ariana Kline, Connecticut, Sr., D
Lia LaPrise, Connecticut, Gr., A
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
Lauren Black, Denver, So., A
Ellie Curry, Denver, Sr., M
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Sr., A
Sam Thacker, Denver, Sr., D*
Erin Bakes, Georgetown, Gr., M
Tatum Geist, Georgetown, Jr., M
Nicole Massimino, Georgetown, Gr., D
Lydia Foust, Marquette, Sr., M
Mary Schumar, Marquette, Sr., A
Caroline Curnal, Villanova, Gr., M
Addie Fischer, Villanova, Sr., M*
*denotes unanimous selection