Lindenwood Picked As Favorite in 2018 #RMACwlax Preseason Coaches Poll
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Lindenwood takes the top spot in the 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) women’s lacrosse preseason coaches poll, announced on Tuesday.
The poll was voted on by the conference’s 10 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
Receiving 78 points and six first-place votes, the Lions were last season’s RMAC champions, going undefeated in conference play and 21-2 overall. They made it to the RMAC championship, where they fell to Regis. Lindenwood advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II (DII) Semifinals, falling just short to Florida Southern, 13-12. This season, they are led by RMAC Preseason Midfielder of the Year, Sophie Buelow, and RMAC Preseason Goalie of the Year, Rachel Ortell, plus three more players on the Preseason All-RMAC Team.
Last season’s RMAC Tournament Champions, Regis, take the No. 2 spot with 76 points and four first-place votes. The Rangers went 8-1 in conference play and 17-3 overall, making it to the NCAA DII Tournament, their first time doing so in program history, where they lost in the first round to Queens University. RMAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Wendy Donier, and three more Rangers on the Preseason All-RMAC Team hope to carry the team to another Championship season.
Colorado Mesa is third, earning 65 points. The Mavericks finished 7-2 in conference games and 13-4 overall. Last season, the team made it to the RMAC Tournament semifinals, where they lost to Regis 14-12. The team looks to improve on their 2017 record, led by RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Erin Koehler.
Westminster takes the No. 4 spot with 48 points. Last year’s RMAC Tournament No. 5 seed made it to the quarterfinals and lost to Fort Lewis, 12-9. The Griffins went 5-4 in conference games and 7-6 overall.
Rockhurst is in fifth place with 45 points. The Hawks finished the 2017 season 4-5 in RMAC play and 9-9 overall, clinching a spot in the RMAC Tournament, where they fell to Colorado Mesa in the quarterfinals.
In sixth place is Fort Lewis with 44 points. The Skyhawks went 6-3 in conference games and 9-7 overall, making it to the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament.
CSU-Pueblo is right behind at No. 7, garnering 43 points. The ThunderWolves ended 2017 with an overall record of 5-10, going 3-6 overall.
Oklahoma Baptist comes in at No. 8 with 20 points. The Bison look to improve on their 2017 conference record of 2-7.
In the ninth spot is UCCS with 16 points. The Mountain Lions ended their season last year going 0-9 in RMAC games and 4-10 overall.
At No. 10 is Adams State, tallying 15 points. The Grizzlies were 1-8 in conference play and 2-13 overall in 2013.
The 2018 RMAC women’s lacrosse season kicks off this Friday, February 2, with Oklahoma Baptist travelling to Tigerville, S.C. to take on North Greenville University.
2018 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Lindenwood (6) 78
2. Regis (4) 76
3. Colorado Mesa 65
4. Westminster 48
5. Rockhurst 45
6. Fort Lewis 44
7. CSU-Pueblo 43
8. Oklahoma Baptist 20
9. UCCS 16
10. Adams State 15