NEC RELEASE
Somerset. NJ - The Wagner College women’s lacrosse team has been picked sixth in the 2010 Northeast Conference (NEC) Poll in voting conducted by the league head coaches.
Two-time defending champion Sacred Heart was selected as the 2010 Northeast Conference (NEC) Women’s Lacrosse preseason favorite. The Pioneers received five first place votes, slipping ahead of Monmouth, which earned three first place votes. Quinnipiac, the 2009 NEC runner-up, tallied two first place votes and was picked third, while Robert Morris was slotted fourth. Mount St. Mary’s and Wagner were selected in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Long Island, Bryant, Central Connecticut State and Saint Francis (PA) rounded out the field.
The Seahawks, under the direction of second-year head coach
Cristina Curiale, are coming off a 4-13 season in 2009. The Seahawks open the 2010 campaign with a home game vs. Bucknell on Feb. 24. Leading the team as a captains will be senior midfielder
Krista Malayter (Cheshire, CT/ Cheshire), along with junior attackers
Janine Bright (Commack, NY/ Commack) and
Karen Vitkus (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles).
Wagner returns three of its top five leading scorers from a year ago. Sophomore midfielder
Carolyn Clark (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) is coming off a rookie season in which she led the Seahawks in goals (29) and ranked second in points (35). Bright was Wagner’s third-leading scorer a year ago with 32 points on 19 goals and 13 assists, despite missing two games with an injury. Sophomore midfielder
Melanie Garces (San Diego, CA/Westview) finished fifth on the Seahawks with 30 points on 19 goals and 11 assists. Wagner also returns senior goalkeeper
Alex Johnston (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) who, after posting 175 saves a year ago, ranks second on the Seahawks’ career saves list with 462.
2010 NEC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Sacred Heart (5)
2. Monmouth (3)
3. Quinnipiac (2)
4. Robert Morris
5. Mount St. Mary’s
6. Wagner
7. Long Island
8. Bryant
9. Central Connecticut St.
10. Saint Francis (PA)