Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/28/15
From Press Release
Temple junior Nicole Tiernan (Washington Township) is one of 16 to be selected to the 2015 Preseason All-BIG EAST Lacrosse Team, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday after a vote by the league’s eight head coaches. The 2015 Preseason BIG EAST Poll was also released, with Florida predicted to take the title.
The BIG EAST welcomed Florida and Vanderbilt as affiliate members for women’s lacrosse in the offseason, and the Gators are the unanimous pick to win the league in their inaugural season.
Florida totaled 49 points and earned all seven available first-place votes, while Georgetown was picked second with 42 points. Connecticut earned the final available first-place vote and totaled 36 points to come in third, followed by the Commodores, who earned 32 points in their first BIG EAST poll. Temple rounded out the top five with 24 points, followed by Villanova in sixth (21 points), Marquette in seventh (12) and Cincinnati in eighth (eight).
Tiernan was a 2014 BIG EAST Second Team selection after an outstanding sophomore season in which he was the team’s second-leading scorer with 29 goals. In BIG EAST games, Tiernan led the Owls with 18 goals. Her 2.57 goals per game in conference contests ranked fourth in the league. Tiernan had at least two goals in each of the final five games for Temple, including four against #19 Louisville and three against Georgetown. In the summer of 2014, Tiernan was invited to try out for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Temple narrowly missed out on a berth in the four-team BIG EAST Tournament in 2014, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place but coming up short in a tiebreaker. The Owls went 3-4 in the league and 6-10 overall, but return six of their top eight leading scorers from last season.
Villanova senior Jessica Mucci (Sevema Park, Md.) and junior Chelsey Henderson (West Long Brach, N.J.) were selected to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. This is the first time that either Mucci or Henderson have earned preseason accolades after they finished the 2014 campaign with spots on the All-BIG EAST Second Team postseason list for the first time as well.
Henderson started all 16 games at midfield for the Wildcats. She finished the 2014 season with 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points, tied for the team lead. The West Long Branch, N.J., native also led the team in ground balls (36) and draw controls (40). Henderson recorded 10 multi-point games in 2014, including a seven-point (4G, 3A) performance against Michigan on Feb. 22. In seven BIG EAST contests, Henderson scored seven goals and tallied six assists. She was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on April 22.
Mucci started 15 of 16 games she played during her junior season. She led the team in assists (22) for the second straight season. Mucci also had 11 goals for 33 points, good for third on the team. The Severna Park, Md., native also recorded 14 ground balls, seven draw controls and four caused turnovers. In her three seasons with Villanova, Mucci has been a key playmaker and leader.
BIG EAST Preseason Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll
1. Florida – 49 points (7 first-place votes)*
2. Georgetown – 42
3. Connecticut – 36 (1)
4. Vanderbilt – 32
5. Temple – 24
6. Villanova – 21
7. Marquette – 12
8. Cincinnati – 8
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Shannon Gilroy, Florida, M
Preseason Defensive Players of the Year^
Adrianne Devine, Georgetown, D
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, D
Elizabeth Goslee, Marquette, D
^Three-way tie in voting
Preseason All-BIG EAST
Nora Barry, Florida, M*
Sammi, Burgess, Florida, A*
Kelly Chandler, Vanderbilt, M
Adrianne Devine, Georgetown, D*
Corinne Etchison, Georgetown, A
Katherine Finkelston, Connecticut, M*
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, D*
Shannon Gilroy, Florida, M*
Elizabeth Goslee, Marquette, D*
Chelsey Henderson, Villanova, M
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, M
Jessica Mucci, Villanova, A
Shannon Nee (Manheim Township), Connecticut, GK*
Mallory Schonk, Vanderbilt, A*
Caroline Tarzian, Georgetown, A*
Nicole Tiernan (Washington Township), Temple, A
*unanimous selection
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