LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shepherd University women's lacrosse team has been picked to finish seventh in the 2020 PSAC East Preseason Poll as announced by the league office today.  No. 2 West Chester has been picked as the PSAC East favorite and No. 19 Mercyhurst is the coaches' choice in the PSAC West.

With the addition of Shepherd University to the league, the sport of women's lacrosse will feature two divisions for the first time since 2010. Both divisions will consist of seven teams.
 
In the Eastern Division: Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Millersville, Shepherd, Shippensburg and West Chester.
 
In the Western Division: Edinboro, Gannon, IUP, Lock Haven, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Slippery Rock.
 
The conference will conduct double round-robin play within each division (12 contests). All mandated contests will count in the divisional standings.
 
EAST
West Chester claimed six of the seven possible first-place votes and is ranked No. 2 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Preseason Poll. The Golden Rams won their 22nd PSAC Championship in 2019 and reached the NCAA DII National Championship before falling to Adelphi.
 
West Chester boasts a 39-3 record over the last two seasons and has only suffered one conference loss in that span. Coach Ginny Martino returns four all-conference athletes while being the all-time winningest women's lacrosse coach in NCAA DII history. Senior attacker Tatum Altman will pace the offense after scoring 35 goals and dishing out 39 assists last season.
 
No. 11 East Stroudsburg was tabbed second and received a first-place vote. The Warriors are coming off their third consecutive NCAA appearance and are 32-4 in league play over the last three seasons. East Stroudsburg returns three all-conference athletes, including senior goalie Tatyana Petteway. Petteway paced the PSAC in save percentage (.548) while accumulating the second-most saves (211).
 
Millersville was tabbed third after reaching the PSAC Championship for the first time since 2016. The Marauders return a trio of all-conference athletes, including junior midfielder Genevieve Speights. Speights paced the team in draw controls (59).
 
Bloomsburg was picked fourth after producing an 11-6 record in 2019. The Huskies led all of NCAA DII in caused turnovers (15.76) while allowing the fewest goals in the league (158). Coach Shannon Hertz's squad returns a quartet of all-conference athletes, including three-time all-conference goalie Angela DiPasquale. DiPasquale is 17 save shy of 500 for her career.
 
Shippensburg, Kutztown and Shepherd rounded out the poll, respectively.

WEST
No. 19 Mercyhurst garnered four first-place votes and ended the 2019 regular season on an eight-game win streak. The Lakers return their top three goal scorers in Julia Rescott, Emma Hubert and Lacey Netti. The trio combined for 131 goals, including 63 from Hubert.
 
No. 21 Seton Hill claimed a first-place vote and was picked second. The Griffins advanced to their first-ever NCAA Championship last season before falling in the first round. Seton Hill returns a pair of all-conference athletes in Jaclyn Frank and Emma Haley. Frank paced the PSAC in points (85) and was second in assists (48). Haley led the league in draw controls (157).
 
IUP is receiving votes in the IWLCA Preseason Poll. The Crimson Hawks received two first-place votes and was tabbed third. IUP returns five of its top scorers from last season, including Shannon Hartigan, who tallied 36 goals and 23 assists.
 
Slippery Rock was picked fourth and returns two-time all-conference representative Rachel Shaw. Shaw amassed 54 groundballs and caused 36 turnovers in 15 contests.
 
Lock Haven, Gannon and Edinboro completed the poll, respectively.

The Rams, coming off an 11-7 mark in 2019, open the 2020 campaign on Feb 22 when they travel to Chestnut Hill for a 1:30 p.m. contest.

2020 PSAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
 
EAST (No. of 1st Place Votes)
1) West Chester (6)
2) East Stroudsburg (1)
3) Millersville
4) Bloomsburg
5) Shippensburg
6) Kutztown
7) Shepherd
 
WEST
1) Mercyhurst (4)
2) Seton Hill (1)
3) IUP (2)
4) Slippery Rock
5) Lock Haven
6) Gannon
7) Edinboro