Wildcats Picked 8th in BIG EAST Preseason Poll

Head Coach Julie Young and Wildcats Set to Begin Season on Feb. 16

Maria Bowman

Jan. 23, 2013

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Villanova women's lacrosse team was chosen to finish eighth in the league in the BIG EAST preseason poll, released on Wednesday afternoon by the conference office. The Wildcats received 13 votes while 2012 NCAA Finalist Syracuse was unanimously picked first in the preseason standings. The Orange garnered eight first place votes and 64 points with the season set to begin in just under a month.

Loyola was chosen to finish second in the standings and notched one first place vote and 57 points. Rounding out the top five were Notre Dame, Georgetown and Rutgers.

Syracuse's Michelle Tumolo was unanimously chosen as the Preseason Offense Player of the Year while teammate Becca Block was also unanimously picked as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Head Coach Julie Young and the Wildcats are set to begin the 2013 season when they take on Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. on Saturday, February 16th at 1 p.m. The Wildcats are looking to improve on their 4-12 overall record in 2012 with the addition of 16 newcomers and plenty of upperclassmen experience.

2013 BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Syracuse (8)  64
2. Loyola (1)  57
3. Notre Dame  48
4. Georgetown  44
5. Rutgers  36
6. Connecticut  26
   Louisville  26
8. Villanova  13
9. Cincinnati  10
First-place votes in parentheses

2013 BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
*Michelle Tumolo, Syracuse, Senior, Attack

2013 BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
*Becca Block, Syracuse, Senior, Defense

2013 BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Stephanie Anderson, Rutgers, Senior, Midfield
*Becca Block, Syracuse, Senior, Defense
Nikki Boltja, Louisville, Junior, Midfield
Kelsi Bozel, Georgetown, Senior, Midfield
Alyssa Costantino, Syracuse, Junior, Goalkeeper
Ashley Hunter, Georgetown, Senior, Defense
*Alyssa Murray, Syracuse, Junior, Attack
*Marlee Paton, Loyola, Junior, Midfield
Lindsey Powell, Notre Dame, Junior, Attack
*Margaret Smith, Notre Dame, Junior, Defense
*Barbara Sullivan, Notre Dame, Sophomore, Defense
*Annie Thomas, Loyola, Sophomore, Attack
*Sophia Thomas, Georgetown, Senior, Midfield
*Sydney Thomas, Loyola, Sophomore, Midfield
*Michelle Tumolo, Syracuse, Senior, Attack
Katie Webster, Syracuse, Junior, Midfield

*unanimous selections

Villanova University