Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/28/16
From Press Release
Villanova women’s lacrosse graduate student Jackie Froccaro was named the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, announced by the conference Wednesday afternoon. Joining her on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team is junior Sam Scarfogliero. The Wildcats were picked to finish fifth overall in the conference in the Preseason Poll.
Froccaro was selected 2015 BIG EAST Attacker of the Year, she finished last season with team high 49 goals, averaging 2.88 goals a game. To date in her career, she has 99 goals, placing her at 9th on the Villanova all time goal scoring list. She finished 2015 with 57 points and a .744% shots on goal percentage. The Sands Point New York native finished last season with a team high 76 draw controls, 20 ground balls, and 7 caused turnovers.
Scarfogliero also earned postseason honors in 2015 as a member of the All- BIG EAST Second Team for her strong defensive efforts. She led the team in ground balls with 34 as well as in caused turnovers finishing with 27.
Overall the Wildcats received 26 votes placing them fifth out of eight teams in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll. The team is coming off their best year since joining the BIG EAST in 2002; they qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament, finished with a winning record 9-8, and had a Froccaro selected as BIG EAST Attacker of the Year.
Florida led the pack receiving 6 first place votes and 46 points overall to claim the number one spot in the preseason poll. UConn came in second receiving two first place votes followed by Georgetown and Vanderbilt. Rounding out the final three were Temple, Marquette, and Cincinnati.
Nicole Tiernan (Washington Township) represented Temple, which was slated sixth in the poll, on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Tiernan’s 2.19 goals per game average ranked fourth in the conference last year, leading the Owls to a 10-6 overall record while going 2-5 in league games. Temple opened the year winning seven of its first eight before cooling off, but remained among the highest scoring teams in the league at 10.06 goals per game. The Owls’ top-six scorers from 2015 return this season, as well as season goalkeeper Jaqi Kakalecik.
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D
Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Kristen Bandos (Notre Dame Academy), Georgetown, Sr., M*
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida, Jr., D
Sammi Burgess, Florida, Jr., A
Jill Doherty, Vanderbilt, Jr., M
Corinne Etchison, Georgetown, Sr., A
Katherine Finkelston, Connecticut, Sr., A*
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, Jr., D*
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A*
Elizabeth Goslee, Marquette, Sr., D
Alexa Kunowsky, Vanderbilt, Sr., M
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D*
Shannon Nee, Connecticut, Sr., GK*
Grace Nolan, Connecticut, So., A
Sam Scarfogliero, Villanova, Jr., D
Devon Schneider (Manheim Township), Florida, Sr., A*
Mallory Schonk, Vanderbilt, Sr., A
Mollie Stevens, Florida, Jr., M*
Nicole Tiernan (Washington Township), Temple, M*
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Florida (6) – 46
2. Connecticut (2) – 44
3. Georgetown – 36
4. Vanderbilt – 31
5. Villanova – 26
6. Temple – 20
7. Marquette – 13
8. Cincinnati – 8
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