Dec. 21, 2010
BALTIMORE — The Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team has been ranked No. 11 in the Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll released this week.
Vanderbilt opens the 2011 season on the road at Presbyterian College on Saturday, Feb. 12. The Commodores will then head back to Nashville for a four-game homestand that features matchups against North Carolina, Canisius, Northwestern and Cincinnati.
The Commodores are led by All-American Ally Carey, a junior midfielder who is the team’s returning leader in assists, points, ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. Senior Katherine Denkler tied for the team lead in goals a season ago with 43. U.S. Developmental team goalkeeper Natalie Wills returns for the third season in net for the Commodores.
A total of seven of Vanderbilt’s 2011 opponents found their way into the Top 20 poll, including Northwestern, North Carolina and Duke at Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The rankings, compiled by Lacrosse Magazine staff after consultations with coaches, predict Maryland to win its second straight NCAA Division I women’s championship.
In all, nine of 11 defending national champions from 2010 were selected to repeat: C.W. Post (NCAA Division II men), Adelphi (NCAA Division II women), Tufts (NCAA Division III men), Colorado State (US Lacrosse Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates), Michigan (Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division I), St. Thomas (MCLA Division II) and Onondaga (National Junior College Athletic Association men) and Monroe (NJCAA women).
The rankings and preseason honorees are profiled in the January issue of Lacrosse Magazine. Expanded college previews will run in the February issue.
NCAA Division I Women
1. Maryland
2. Northwestern
3. North Carolina
4. Duke
5. Syracuse
6. Georgetown
7. Virginia
8. Penn
9. James Madison
10. Notre Dame
11. Vanderbilt
12. Stanford
13. Loyola
14. Dartmouth
15. Penn State
16. Towson
17. Florida
18. Princeton
19. Boston College
20. Hofstra
Preseason Player of the Year: Karri Ellen Johnson, Maryland
Lacrosse Magazine
Lacrosse Magazine is a monthly publication of US Lacrosse, the national governing body of the sport of lacrosse. The magazine has an annual readership of 3.6 million and is distributed nationally to the membership of US Lacrosse. For more information on Lacrosse Magazine visit www.laxmagazine.com. Join US Lacrosse on or before Dec. 30 to start a subscription with the February issue.
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse has more than 300,000 members in 62 regional chapters around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org.
