GORHAM — The Little East Conference office recently announced the results of its annual preseason women’s lacrosse coaches’ poll with the University of Southern Maine predicted to finish sixth place in the seven-team circuit. The Huskies received 25 points in the voting to hold down the sixth spot.Western Connecticut State University was five points ahead of USM taking the fourth spot with 30 points, while the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was sandwiched between WCSU and USM in fifth with 27 points.
Perennial powerhouses Plymouth State University, Keene State College and Eastern Connecticut State University sit atop the poll separated by just three points. PSU earned the top spot garnering two first-place votes and 44 points to edge out in-state rival and defending championship KSC by one point. KSC received three first-place nods and 43 points. ESCU was two points further back with 41 points and the final two first-place votes.
Led by third-year head coach Ashley Dyer and this year’s captains, senior attack Sam Campobasso (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle), senior midfielder Heather Everett (Waterboro, Maine/Massabesic), senior defender Kaelyn Kuni (Waterboro, Maine/Massabesic) and senior attack/defender Lauren Lessard (Lewiston, Maine/Kents Hill), the Huskies have 10 players returning from last season’s team that finished 6-10 overall and 2-4 in LEC play. The Huskies reached the LEC tournament semifinals by upsetting Western Connecticut in the first round, 10-9 in double overtime, before falling to Keene State.
The Huskies open their 2017 schedule today (4:00 p.m.) with a game at the University of New England. USM’s home opener with Husson University on Saturday at Hannaford Field has been postponed due to the extremely cold weather forecast.
The Huskies will play nine non-conference games in the month of March before opening their Little East Conference schedule on April 1 hosting the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
The top six teams in the final standings will advance to the LEC Championship Tournament that starts May 2. The tournament champion receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
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