Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/31/24
From Press Release
Corinne Bednarik (Downingtown West) and Jenika Cuocco of Drexel women’s lacrosse have been named to the Preseason All-CAA Lacrosse Team. Additionally, tri-captain Belle McHugh (Acadey of Notre Dame) earned honorable mention.
Bednarik, the reigning CAA Attacker of the Year, started all 18 games for the Dragons. The team’s top returning scorer, led the team with 47 goals and 75 draw controls. The fifth-year senior earned USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-America and IWLCA Second Team All-Region. She is now third all-time in draw controls at Drexel (247), third in assists (70), and fifth in points (193). In the classroom, she was named the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women’s Lacrosse Performer of the Year
Cuocco in her first year of play, was named the CAA Goalie and Rookie of the Year. The Sound Beach, N.Y. native was fourth in the nation in save percentage (.532) and seventh in saves (185). The redshirt sophomore broke the CAA record with seven Rookie of the Week awards last season. Cuocco started all 18 games in goal for the Dragons for 1,062 minutes. Off the field, she earned Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area status.
McHugh earned a nod to the IWLCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-CAA following 18 starts last season. She led the Dragons’ defense to 13th in the NCAA in scoring defense at 9.28 goals/game. The fifth-year senior was second on the team with 27 caused turnovers and helped the program to its third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
The Dragons were picked to finish second in the CAA Preseason Poll, they received 54 points. Defending conference champions, Stony Brook was picked to win the CAA with a unanimous eight first-place votes and Towson was selected third, three votes behind DU.
2024 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
School (1st) Points
1. Stony Brook (8) 64
2. Drexel 54
3. Towson (1) 51
4. Delaware 40
5. Hofstra 37
6. Monmouth 29
7. William & Mary 23
8. Elon 15
9. Campbell 11
2024 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
Name School Cl. Pos. Hometown
Corinne Bednarik (Downingtown West) Drexel 5th A Glenmoore, Pa.
Caroline Brennan (Downingtown East) Monmouth Jr. A Downingtown, Pa.
Kailyn Hart Stony Brook Gr. A North Babylon, N.Y.
Lindsey Marshall Towson Sr. A Catonsville, Md.
Milana Zizakovic Towson Jr. A Calgary, Alberta
Sam Bischoff Campbell Sr. M Pomona, N.Y.
Jaden Hampel Stony Brook Sr. M West Islip, N.Y.
Ellie Masera Stony Brook Sr. M Eastport, N.Y.
Blair Goodrich Towson Sr. D Chester, Md.
Madison Hranicka Delaware Gr. D Mendham, N.J.
Clare Levy Stony Brook Sr. D Rocky Point, N.Y.
Jenika Cuocco Drexel R-So. GK Sound Beach, N.Y.
Preseason Player of the Year: Ellie Masera, Stony Brook
Honorable Mention: Anna Hackett, M, Elon; Caroline Hertzberg, D, William & Mary; Belle McHugh (Academy of Notre Dame), D, Drexel; Taylor Mennella, A, Hofstra; Rebekah Taylor, D, Campbell; Lizzie Yurchak, M, Delaware
