University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll; Mullaney Honored
1/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
PROVIDENCE, RI (January 27) – The University of Connecticut women’s lacrosse was selected to finish the BIG EAST regular season in fifth place by a vote of the league’s head coaches. For the third consecutive year, Georgetown was picked to capture the BIG EAST women’s lacrosse title. UConn junior Tracy Mullaney (Cockeysville, MD) was named to the 2004 All-BIG EAST Preseason Team.
The Huskies completed the 2003 season with an even 8-8 overall record, 1-5 in the BIG EAST Conference. The Huskies return 21 letterwinners to the 2004 roster, including 2003 All-Region and All-BIG EAST selection Mullaney. The Huskies earned preseason mention in the 2004 Lacrosse Magazine annual preseason poll and are on the bubble of the 2004 Preseason NCAA Division I poll, listing the top 20 Division I programs in the country.
Georgetown tops the poll after winning the 2003 BIG EAST championship with its third straight 6-0 conference mark. The Hoyas earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, advancing to the quarterfinals. GU will be led by Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Michi Ellers. The senior paced the nation in caused turnovers last season. Syracuse garnered one first-place vote and was tabbed second. The Orangewomen were 5-1 in conference games last season and went 10-6 overall en route to an NCAA Championship appearance. Senior midfielder Leigh-Ann Zimmer was chosen as the league’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She finished third in the BIG EAST with 54 points (43g, 11a) in 2003.
Notre Dame was selected third. The Fighting Irish had a 4-2 record in conference contests last season. ND placed two players on the preseason team - seniors Andrea Kinnik and Meredith Simon. Rutgers claimed the fourth-place spot. The Scarlet Knights were 12-4 in 2002, good for the program’s first winning campaign in four years. Boston College ended last season at 9-6 and was picked to finish sixth. Virginia Tech rounds out the poll. The Hokies recorded a 3-14 mark in 2003. Both squads placed one player on the preseason team - Jackie Yovankin (BC) and Kate Threadgold (VT).
The Huskies will open the 2004 season on March 5 at the University of New Hampshire at 3:00 pm.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAM
Christina Curiale, Rutgers, Sr., A
Michi Ellers, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Lyndsey Feldman, Rutgers, Jr., G*
Monica Joines, Syracuse, Jr., M*
Andrea Kinnik, Notre Dame, Sr., M/D
Gloria Lozano, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Tracy Mullaney, Connecticut, Jr., A*
Anouk Peters, Georgetown, Sr., A
Meredith Simon, Notre Dame, Sr., M/A
Kate Threadgold, Virginia Tech, Sr., A
Stephanie Walker, Syracuse, So., M
Jackie Yovankin, Boston College, Jr., M
Leigh-Ann Zimmer, Syracuse, Sr., M*
*- unanimous selection a tie in the voting created an additional position on the preseason team
2004 lacrosse preseason Poll
1. #*Georgetown (6)
2. Syracuse (1)
3. Notre Dame
4. Rutgers
5. Connecticut
6. Boston College
7. Virginia Tech
First-place votes in parentheses; * - 2003 BIG EAST Champion; # - unanimous selection
