Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/28/20
From Press Release
Reigning national champion Maryland was voted by the conference coaches as the preseason favorite to claim their sixth consecutive Big Ten Championship in 2020. The Terrapins were followed in the preseason poll by Northwestern in second, Michigan in third, Penn State at fourth and Johns Hopkins at No. 5, while Ohio State was picked sixth and Rutgers rounded out the poll at No. 7. All seven head coaches voted in the preseason poll and selected three players from their own teams to a preseason honors list.
Last season, Maryland won its fourth national title in the last six years, its 15th overall, and earned its fifth consecutive outright Big Ten title. Maryland was selected No. 2 in the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook preseason Top 20 and return four Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans.
The preseason Players to Watch List features 21 standouts from the seven schools, including the 2019 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Northwestern’s Izzy Scane. Seven 2019 All-Big Ten honorees were selected to the preseason honorees list.
Big Ten women’s lacrosse features teams that have won 27 national championships and 23 of the 38 NCAA Championships, including 12 of the last 15. Maryland claimed seven straight titles from 1995 to 2001, while Northwestern has won seven NCAA titles, highlighted by five consecutive from 2005 to 2009 and most recently in 2012. Penn State has earned five national championships, including NCAA titles in 1987 and 1989.
The 2020 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament will be hosted by Ohio State on Friday, May 1 and Sunday, May 3. The tournament will be a four-team field, with two semifinals on Friday and the championship game on Sunday. The preseason poll and complete Players to Watch list can be found below.
2020 BIG TEN WOMEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
- Maryland
- Northwestern
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Johns Hopkins
- Ohio State
- Rutgers
2020 WOMEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH
Shelby Harrison, Jr., Johns Hopkins
Jeanne Kachris, Jr., Johns Hopkins
Maggie Schneidereith, Sr., Johns Hopkins
Brindi Griffin, Sr., Maryland
Grace Griffin, Jr., Maryland
Kali Hartshorn, Sr., Maryland
Molly Garrett, Sr., Michigan
Maggie Kane, Jr., Michigan
Caitlin Muir, Jr., Michigan
Megan Kinna, Sr., Northwestern
Lindsey McKone, Sr., Northwestern
Izzy Scane, So., Northwestern
Lindsay Epstein, Sr., Ohio State
Liza Hernandez, Sr., Ohio State
Jill Rizzo, Sr., Ohio State
Maria Auth, Sr., Penn State
Madison Carter, Sr., Penn State
Taylor Suplee, So., Penn State
Samantha Budd (West Deptford, NJ), Sr., Rutgers
Taralyn Naslonski, Jr., Rutgers
Cassidy Spilis (Seneca, NJ), Fr., Rutgers
