HIGH POINT, NC- The Queens University of Charlotte Women's Lacrosse Team has been voted fourth in the Conference Carolinas 2011 season preseason polls. Limestone took the number one position with Pfeiffer and Belmont Abbey following behind closely to round out the top three spots. The conference polls are voted on by the conference head coaches.
The Royals are returning 13 players that saw quality minutes on the field last season. The 2010 season was one of growth as Queens finished third with a 5-2 league record and a 7-10 overall record after facing some of the toughest competition in the nation. The group of experienced returners mixed with the six newcomers will prove to be advantageous when the Royals step on the field this season.
“I couldn't be more excited for this season,” said Head Coach Meghan Dennehy. “We have a very talented group of players this year and I am expecting great things this season!”
Amanda Martin (Geneva, N.Y. , Geneva), currently ranked ninth in points on Queens' all-time point leaders list, will rejoin her team on the field after sitting out last season due to injury. The senior's scoring ability will only add to the Royals' offensive attack this season. Junior Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East), ranked seventh in points in Queens' women's lacrosse history, is coming off a great season where she was the second leading scorer for the Royals behind Queens' all-time leading scorer Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ), a 2010 graduate. Philip also led her team in ground balls and draw controls. Another player returning is senior Caitlin O'Rourke ( Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs ). O'Rourke stepped up big on the offensive end scoring 28 goals, 13 better than the previous season, during the 2010 campaign.
Ranked No. 5 in the nation, the Limestone College women's lacrosse team returns a solid nucleus following a season in which they went 18-2 and lost in the final seconds against West Chester University in the NCAA Tournament.
This season, the Saints will be led by a talented group of players that include sophomore attacker Chelsea Treat and junior attacker Racquel Prager on offense and junior Brigid Milchling and sophomore Rashelle McLellan in goal.
Prager was second on the team in points with 57 (48 goals, 9 assists) a year ago while Treat scored 50 goals, good for second on the club, and finished with 54 points. Milchling delivered a 9-1 record and 6.39 goals against average and McLellan went a perfect 7-0-0 with a 6.29 GAA.
Pfeiffer finished 11-7 overall a year ago, 5-2 in conference play, falling to top-seeded Limestone in the tournament's semifinals.
Losing four of the five top scorers from 2010, Pfeiffer will look towards five returning seniors for leadership as well as ushering in a host of newcomers. Senior Sarah Hebberd returns as the Lady Falcons top scorer from a season ago with 24 goals and 10 assists. Behind Hebberd, fellow seniors Jessica Moulton and Alex Cook come back as the next two leading scorers.
The Belmont Abbey College women's lacrosse team has reached the Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship game for the last three seasons and returns five of its top eight scorers from last season's unit that finished 9-9 overall and 5-2 in Conference Carolinas. Sophomore Susan Killeavy returns as the Abbey's leading goal scorer, amassing 26 goals in her freshman campaign. Senior Kristyn Kinsey finished with 23 goals, while Emily Hudgins registered 21. The Crusaders open the 2011 season with five straight home games, part of an eight game home schedule.
Rounding out the women's lacrosse preseason poll 5-8 was: Converse, St. Andrews, Lees-McRae and Erskine respectively.
The Royals will kick off their season on February 16th at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Queens' first home game will be on February 20th, homecoming weekend, at noon against Lees-McRae College
