Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/10/22
From Press Release
The West Chester University and Seton Hill University women’s lacrosse teams were favored in their respective divisions in the 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the coaches, the league office announced Wednesday.
EAST
West Chester enters the season as the defending PSAC Champions. The Golden Rams finished first in the PSAC East last season undefeated in conference play and 13-1 overall. West Chester will look to first-team attacker Lindsay Monigle (Cape Henlopen) who recorded 35 goals and 20 assists last season. The Golden Rams were ranked sixth in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Preseason Poll.
In second place, the East Stroudsburg Warriors were last years’ Atlantic Region Champions. East Stroudsburg posted an 8-2 record in 2021 conference play and lost the conference championship game to West Chester. PSAC East Freshman of the Year Emily Mitarotonda is returning along with first-team honorees Gianna LeDuc and Kayleigh Pokrivka. The Warriors received a fifth-place ranking in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Preseason Poll.
The Bloomsburg Huskies are coming off a third-place finish in 2021 and were selected to finish third again, earning one first place vote. The Huskies will look to PSAC East Second Team honorees Erika Biehl and Kelsey Kilgallon who are returning as upperclassmen. 2021 PSAC East Coach of the Year Shannon Hertz returns for her eighth season at the helm.
Shippensburg was picked to finish in fourth place. The Raiders are bringing back 2021 PSAC East First Team defender Hannah Seifried, Second Team attacker Alana Cardaci, and Second Team midfielder Gabby Savarino. Brooke Sabol is in her first season as Head Coach at Shippensburg.
Millersville, Shepherd, and Kutztown round out the poll.
WEST
The Seton Hill Griffins are looking to repeat as PSAC West Champions after claiming first place in the PSAC West in 2021 with a 10-0 conference record. 2021 assists leader and First Team attacker Jaclyn Frank is returning along with starting goalkeeper Kamille Ward and second team midfielder Elizabeth Tamasitis. Defender Makayla Kinter was named a USA Lacrosse Preseason Second Team All-American after recording 71 draw controls last season. The Griffins were ranked 18th in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Preseason Poll.
Mercyhurst was picked to finish in second place after last year’s second place finish. The Lakers were 7-3 in conference play and 10-4 overall. Team goals leader and 2021 PSAC West First Team attacker Julia Ruscio is back along with First Team goalkeeper Kaitlyn Lippert. After spending three seasons as an assistant, Sam Struss is in her first season as Head Coach of the Lakers.
The IUP Crimson Hawks are predicted to come in third in the PSAC West. IUP finished third last year and fell to Mercyhurst in the first round of the PSAC Championship Tournament. Attacker Jordan Kulp led the PSAC in assists with 6.67 per game last season and she is returning to the Hawks as a junior. She will be joined by 2021 team draw control leader Chantal Jimenez.
In fourth place, Slippery Rock is looking to improve on last year’s fifth place finish. Emily Benham, who led the 2021 team in goals and assists and earned a place on the PSAC West Second Team, is returning as a senior. 2021 Assistant Coach Taryn Burkholder is the interim Head Coach for this season.
Lock Haven, Edinboro, and Gannon make up the remainder of the Western Division.
The full PSAC Preseason Polls are listed below:
PSAC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Polls
EAST (# of First-Place Votes)
- West Chester (4)
- East Stroudsburg (2)
- Bloomsburg (1)
- Shippensburg
- Millersville
- Shepherd
- Kutztown
WEST
- Seton Hill (5)
- Mercyhurst (2)
- IUP
- Slippery Rock
- Lock Haven
- Edinboro
- Gannon