Courtesy of MEC Senior Associate Commissioner of Communications Adam Zundell

MEC Release
 
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Shepherd University has been picked to finish second in the 2019 MEC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. The UVa-Wise Cavaliers have been picked to win the 2019 Mountain East Conference women's lacrosse championship by a vote of the league's coaches.

The Cavs finished atop the poll with 24 points and had four first-place votes. UVa-Wise swept both the regular season and tournament titles a season ago going 14-4 overall and undefeated in conference play. First-team All-MEC selections Kristen Gobbi (53 G, 4 A) and Jesse French (38 G, 15 A) return to lead a UVa-Wise offense that lead the league in scoring with over 14 goals per game. Defenders Jess Apgar and Charlotte Hess, each of whom earned first-team All-MEC honors a season ago, will be counted on to slow the opposing team's attack as the Cavs work in a new goalie following the graduation of Mel Reilly. 

Shepherd was picked to finish second with 21 points and had two first-place votes. The Rams return the reigning MEC Offensive Player of the Year Lillian Funke who had 49 goals and 14 assists last year. Shepherd has 10 starters back, including seven of its top eight scorers from a season ago. 

Charleston finished third in the poll with 16 points. The Golden Eagles are in their third season of play as a program under coach Elizabeth Gainer. Wheeling Jesuit, under first-year head coach Jennifer Pawlowski, will be led by last year's Freshman of the Year, Paige Orbell (43 G, 3 A).

West Virginia Wesleyan (8 points) and Notre Dame (6 points) rounded out the preseason poll. 

The top four teams will advance to the MEC Tournament which will be held at the campus of the top seed from May 3-5.

2019 MEC Preseason Poll
1. UVa-Wise -- 24 (4)
2. Shepherd -- 21 (2)
3. Charleston -- 16
4. Wheeling Jesuit -- 15
5. W.Va. Wesleyan -- 8
6. Notre Dame -- 6