Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Sara LeBrun.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - The Wilmington University women's lacrosse team has been picked fourth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll to being the 2016 season, as announced by the conference office on Friday.
The Wildcats finished last season with a 7-11 overall record but went 5-3 in the CACC and advanced to the CACC Tournament Semifinals before falling to eventual Tournament Champion Holy Family.
Holy Family tops the poll by garnering six of the 10 first place votes, totaling 95 points to finish ahead of the field. Georgian Court received three first place votes and 88 points to finish just behind the Tigers while Philadelphia collected 81 points for a firm grasp on third place.
Wilmington collected 65 points for fourth place in the CACC Preseason Poll, being projected to host another CACC Tournament First Round game at the WU Athletics Complex.
Chestnut Hill picked up the final first place vote and earned 61 total points to sit directly behind the Wildcats in fifth. Dominican rounds out the predicted CACC Tournament field with 50 points for sixth place.
The remainder of the CACC Preseason Poll included Caldwell (7th, 35 points), Nyack (8th, 32 points), Felician (9th, 16 points), and Post (10th, 13 points).
The 2016 season and home opener begins on Saturday, February 27 when the Wildcats welcome Queens to the WU Athletics Complex. The CACC portion of the schedule is slated to being on Wednesday, March 30 when the team heads to rival Chestnut Hill, the team the Wildcats knocked out in the CACC Tournament First Round last season.
The Wildcats need to be one of the top six teams in the CACC standings at the end of the regular season to earn a spot in the CACC Tournament. The top two teams from the regular season earn a bye in the First Round with the third and fourth seeds hosting a playoff game. Georgian Court will host the CACC Semifinal and Championship in Lakewood, N.J.
AGATE:
2016 CACC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
1. Holy Family 95 (6)
2. Georgian Court 88 (3)
3. Philadelphia 81
4. Wilmington 65
5. Chestnut Hill 61 (1)
6. Dominican 50
7. Caldwell 35
8. Nyack 32
9. Felician 16
10. Post 13
() - First-Place Votes