University of Connecticut Athletics
Women’s LAX Tabbed Third in AAC Preseason Poll, Three Named to Preseason All-Conference Team
1/26/2019 5:22:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – Entering its inaugural season as a member of the American Athletic Conference, the UConn women's lacrosse team was picked third in the 2019 AAC Lacrosse Preseason Poll, as announced by the conference office late Thursday afternoon. Additionally, Caitlin Leary, Olivia Miles and Sydney Watson were named to the Preseason All-Conference team, with Watson being a unanimous selection.
Florida, the 2018 Big East champs and a 2018 NCAA Quarterfinalist, was tabbed to finish first, receiving five of the necessary six first place votes. Vanderbilt, picked second, received one first place vote. The Huskies, who ended last season with an 8-9 mark, were selected third overall, with Temple, Cincinnati and ECU rounding out the poll in fourth, fifth and sixth.
Sophomore midfielder Sydney Watson was the lone unanimous Preseason All-Conference selection for the Huskies. The Prince Frederick, Md. native enters the 2019 season on the heels of a breakout freshman campaign. Watson started in 15 of the 17 games she appeared in, tallied 25 goals and 15 assists for 40 points and set a new single season record with 83 draws. Additionally, the stellar play of Watson garnered her 2018 All-Big East Second Team, 2018 Inside Lacrosse All-Rookie Team and 2018 IWLCA All-Northeast Region Second Team Collections.
Senior Caitlin Leary and junior Olivia Miles rounded out the UConn selections to the Preseason All-Conference team poll. In her 17 starts, Leary third on the team after racking up 42 points on 37 goals and five assists. The attacker also ended the 2018 season first on the team with four game winning goals and strung together an 11-game point streak spanning from March 7-April 28.
During the 2018 campaign, midfielder Olivia Miles started in all 17 games and notched 29 points on 24 goals and five assists. Miles collected a personal best 21 ground balls, 20 draw controls and also forced eight turnovers. Additionally, she strung together a point streak of nine games between Feb. 9 and March 18, including a five goal performance in the March 3 contest against No. 24 Massachusetts.
2019 American Athletic Conference
Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. Florida (5)* 25
2. Vanderbilt (1) 18
3. UConn 17
4. Temple 16
5. Cincinnati 9
6. ECU 5
Preseason Attacker of the Year
Lindsey Ronbeck, Sr., Florida*
Preseason Defender of the Year
Cara Trombetta, Jr., Florida*
Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Sydney Pirreca, Sr., Florida*
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Haley Hicklen, Sr., Florida*
Preseason All-Conference Team
Monica Borzillo, Jr., A, Cincinnati*
Amanda Donovan, Sr., M, Cincinnati
Sam Mlkvy, R-Jr., M, Cincinnati
Caitlin Leary, Sr., A, UConn
Olivia Miles, Jr., M, UConn
Sydney Watson, So., M, UConn*
Megan Pallozzi, So., M, ECU
Sabrina Cristodero, So., D, Florida
Grace Haus, So., A, Florida*
Haley Hicklen, Sr., GK, Florida*
Shannon Kavanagh, So., M, Florida*
Sydney Pirreca, Sr., M, Florida*
Lindsey Ronbeck, Sr., A, Florida*
Cara Trombetta, Jr., D, Florida*
Maddie Gebert, Jr., M, Temple*
Amber Lambeth, Sr., M, Temple
Kara Nakrasius, Jr., D, Temple*
Melanie Becker, Sr., M, Vanderbilt
Julie Blaze, Sr., M, Vanderbilt*
Emily Mathewson, Jr., A, Vanderbilt*
*denotes unanimous selection
