University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Picked Second in Big East Preseason Poll
1/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
NEW YORK - The UConn women's lacrosse team was picked to finish second in the Big East this season in the preseason coaches poll, which was announced Wednesday. Senior Lauren Kwasnowski (Kingston, N.Y.) was voted Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the Preseason All-Big East Team along with three other Huskies.
The Huskies received two first-place votes and 44 points, which left them just behind Florida who received six first-place votes and 46 points. Georgetown took third with 36 points, followed by Vanderbilt with 31. Villanova (26), Temple (20), Marquette (13) and Cincinnati (8) rounded out the remaining four slots in the poll.
UConn finished last season 11-7 overall and 5-2 in league play and advanced to the Big East Championship title game for the first time. The Huskies were the only team in the conference to hand the top-slated Gators a loss in league play last season, but ended up losing to Florida in the Big East Tournament.
Senior Lauren Kwasnowski earned Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring the UConn defense in 2015, which finished fourth in the nation in caused turnovers per match (10.22) with Kwasnowski averaging 1.94 per game, which put her 10th among all Division I players. The Kingston, N.Y. native became the fifth Husky to be named an All-American after she was named to the IWLCA All-American Second Team. Kwasnowski was also tabbed Big East Defender of the Year, named to All-Big East First Team and was selected to IWLCA All-Northeast Region First Team at the conclusion of last season. She finished last season with a team-high 40 ground balls in addition to 35 caused turnovers, 21 draw controls and two assists.
Seniors Katherine Finkelston (Leonardtown, Md.) and Shannon Nee (Lancaster, Pa.) and sophomore Grace Nolan (Marcellus, N.Y.) join Kwasnowski on the Preseason All-Big East Team. Finkelston and Nee earned unanimous selections. Finkelston ranked third in the Big East with 2.22 goals per game and Nee's impressive .471 save percentage ranked second. Finkelston finished last season with a team-high 57 points (40g, 17a) and Nolan finished second on the team as a freshman with 46 points (26g, 20a). Nee played in all 18 games for the Huskies, recording 147 saves last season for a .471 percentage and a 9.64 goals against average.
Big East Preseason accolades:
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
