Coaches Vote Queens as SAC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Favorite

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Queens has been voted by the SAC's head coaches as the preseason favorite to win the conference's inaugural women's lacrosse title, it was announced on Wednesday.

Queens – which received five first-place votes in the poll – is one of seven SAC schools that will sponsor women's lacrosse in 2014. The Royals went 10-10 overall in 2013, finishing third in the Conference Carolinas standings at 5-2.

Lenoir-Rhyne is second in the poll and earned the other two first-place votes. The Bears are followed by Catawba and Newberry in a tie for third, Wingate at No. 5, Coker at No. 6 and Brevard at No. 7.

The first women's lacrosse preseason All-SAC Team in conference history was also released on Wednesday. Making up the First Team attackers are Queens' Jena Ready, Lenoir-Rhyne's Lauren Donovan, Newberry's Kerri Ann Barlage and Catawba's Meredith Jones.

Queens' Brittany Barnwell and Arika Zimmerman, Lenoir-Rhyne's Claire Wach and Catawba's Emily Mills are the first-team midfielders, Queens' Akasha Kasper and Bridgette Larranaga, Catawba's Kelsey Perusse and Lenoir-Rhyne's Rachel Hall are the first-team defenders, and Catawba's Bethany Davis is the first-team goalkeeper.

Queens' Maggie Masters and Coker's Hayley Ferone and Mackenzie Baker make up the second-team attackers, while Newberry's Carley Marksberry and Victoria Thomas, Lenoir-Rhyne's Haley Beattie and Catawba's Alyssa Corace are the second-team midfielders.

Rounding out the Second Team are Catawba's Chelsea Sorensen, Queens' Sydney Dishman, Newberry's Tricia Powell and Lenoir-Rhyne Victoria Velton at defender, and Queens' Danielle Horoschak at goalkeeper.

The inaugural SAC women's lacrosse season will culminate April 17-19 at the 2014 Food Lion SAC Lacrosse Championship, hosted by Queens.

2014 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll

2014 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team

First Team Attacker

Jena Ready, QU

Lauren Donovan, L-R

Kerri Ann Barlage, NEW

Meredith Jones, CAT

First Team Midfielder

Brittany Barnwell, QU

Arika Zimmerman, QU

Claire Wach, L-R

Ebony Mills, CAT

First Team Defender

Akasha Kasper, QU

Bridgette Larranaga, QU

Kelsey Perusse, CAT

Rachel Hall, L-R

First Team Goalkeeper

Bethany Davis, CAT

Second Team Attacker

Maggie Masters, QU

Hayley Ferone, COK

Mackenzie Baker, COK

Second Team Midfielder

Carly Marksberry, NEW

Haley Beattie, L-R

Victoria Thomas, NEW

Alyssa Corace, CAT

Second Team Defender

Chelsea Sorensen, CAT

Sydney Dishman, QU

Tricia Powell, NEW

Victoria Velton, L-R

Second Team Goalkeeper

Danielle Horoschak, QU