PSAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Notes

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Shepherd University has been picked to finish seventh in the 2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll as announced by the league office today. No. 6 West Chester University and Mercyhurst University were selected to win their respective divisions as voted by the league's head coaches.

Shepherd will be led by senior attacker Sidney Kelly (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) and junior goalkeeper Hailey Bennett (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill). Kelly led the Rams in goals (14), assists (5), and points (19) in 2020. She scored three goals or more in three contests. Bennett recorded a 13.40 goals against average with 60 saves and a .472 save percentage last season. She recorded 10 saves or more in four contests.

The PSAC Women's Lacrosse league features two divisions with both consisting of seven teams.  

In the East, Bloomsburg University, East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Millersville University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University and West Chester.  

The West includes Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven University, Seton Hill University, Slippery Rock University and Mercyhurst.  

EAST 

West Chester received four of the seven possible first-place votes and is ranked No. 6 in US Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Rankings. The Golden Rams are the most recent PSAC Champions claiming the 2019 Championship crown after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.  

The Golden Rams return fifth-year senior defender Molly Reinhart who was named a preseason All-American by US Lacrosse. Goalkeeper Julianne Clemens is also back for her senior season in the goal for WCU.  

East Stroudsburg received three of the seven possible first-place votes and was picked second in the East. The Warriors were ranked eighth in US Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason rankings and will be returning 10 of 12 starters who tallied 63 of the team's 75 goals in 2020.  

Selected third in the East is Bloomsburg. The Huskies were 4-1 prior to the season being cut short. BU returns Kelsey Clauss, who led the team in scoring in 2020 as a true freshman.  

Fourth in the Eastern Division is Millersville. The Marauders have eight returning starters and five freshmen on their 2021 roster. Among the returning starters are Genevieve Speights and Grace Cobaugh.  

Shippensburg, Kutztown and Shepherd rounded out the poll, respectively.  

WEST 

On the other side of things, Mercyhurst was picked first after receiving five of seven possible first-place votes. The Lakers return both Brenna Smith and Brenna Fosco, who were the team's top point earners in five games last year. Smith had 17 points on 14 assists and three goals, while Fosco had 14 on eight goals and six assists.   

Seton Hill was picked second in the west and tallied one first-place vote. The Griffins return their top seven scorers from the 2020 season led by redshirt freshman, Krista Kada, who tallied a team-leading 17 goals and had three assists. 2019 PSAC Coach of the Year, Courtney Grove is on the sidelines for her 12th season and needs just 10 more wins to eclipse 100 career victories.  

Selected third and receiving one first-place vote was Indiana (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks were 2-2 before the season was cut short and were led by attackers Chloe Borland and Jordan Kulp.  

Picked fourth in the West was Lock Haven. The Bald Eagles return a duo of key players including Braxton Reddinger and Lauren Girardi. Prior to the 2020 season being shut down, Girardi was leading the PSAC in saves with 63.  

Claiming the last three spots in the West were Slippery Rock, Gannon and Edinboro, respectively.  

2021 PSAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL 

EAST (No. of 1st Place Votes) 

1) #6 West Chester (4) 

2) #8 East Stroudsburg (3) 

3) Bloomsburg 

4) Millersville 

5) Shippensburg 

6) Kutztown 

7) Shepherd 

WEST 

1) Mercyhurst (5) 

2) Seton Hill (1) 

3) IUP (1) 

4) Lock Haven 

5) Slippery Rock 

6) Gannon 

7) Edinboro