Jan. 27, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Wednesday afternoon the BIG EAST released its preseason polls as picked by the head coaches, with the Vanderbilt Commodores voted to finish in fourth place. Reigning BIG EAST women’s lacrosse champion Florida was picked to repeat in 2016.
Vanderbilt, who finished last season 7-9 and 4-3 in conference play, returns three student-athletes, Jill Doherty, Alexa Kunowsky, and Mallory Schonk who have been selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
Doherty, a junior out of Reading, Mass., earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors last season and was invited to 2015 U.S. Women’s National Team tryouts. As a sophomore, Doherty played and started in all 16 of the Commodores games, leading the team with 23 assists, the third most in the entire league.
Seniors Kunowsky and Schonk are the only two active players who have played in every game of career for the ‘Dores at 50 appearances.
A native of Severna Park, Md., Kunowsky earned a spot on both the SEC and BIG EAST All-Academic teams. Kunowsky was ranked second on the squad with 27 goals and tied for eighth most in the BIG EAST. Last season she tied career-high with five goals (on six shots) in win at Liberty, and was ranked fourth on team with 26 ground balls, setting a career-high with five ground balls in the first two games of season against Kennesaw State and Liberty.
Schonk earned several awards after leading VU with 32 goals and 52 points, including a spot on the 2015 All-BIG East First Team and the honor of being named the BIG EAST Attacker of the Week twice. The Perry Hall, Md. native also had 20 assists for the second-most on team, as well as a team-high 10 games with multiple goals, including eight with three or more.
The Commodores’ first home game of the season is a little over two weeks away on Feb. 13th against Furman University.
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D
Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Kristen Bandos, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida, Jr., D
Sammi Burgess, Florida, Jr., A
Jill Doherty, Vanderbilt, Jr., M
Corinne Etchison, Georgetown, Sr., A
Katherine Finkelston, Connecticut, Sr., A*
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, Jr., D*
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A*
Elizabeth Goslee, Marquette, Sr., D
Alexa Kunowsky, Vanderbilt, Sr., M
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D*
Shannon Nee, Connecticut, Sr., GK*
Grace Nolan, Connecticut, So., A
Sam Scarfogliero, Villanova, Jr., D
Devon Schneider, Florida, Sr., A*
Mallory Schonk, Vanderbilt, Sr., A
Mollie Stevens, Florida, Jr., M*
Nicole Tiernan, Temple, M*
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
(first-place votes)
- Florida (6) – 46
- Connecticut (2) – 44
- Georgetown – 36
- Vanderbilt – 31
- Villanova – 26
- Temple – 20
- Marquette – 13
- Cincinnati – 8
