University of Connecticut Athletics
Beran Named BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
1/21/2026 2:01:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. - UConn women's lacrosse junior defender and 2026 captain Abby Beran (Wading River, N.Y.) was named the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday. Beran is also a unanimous all-BIG EAST First Team selection.
Beran was named the 2025 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in her sophomore season and was unanimously selected to the all-BIG EAST First Team. Beran, who was named a USA Lacrosse All-American Preseason Honorable Mention earlier this week, anchored the Huskies' defense, leading the team with 53 ground balls and 33 caused turnovers.
On March 19th, Beran recorded a career-high six ground balls against Columbia, and on February 12th, she recorded a career-best eight draw controls against Fairfield. The junior defender led the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.94) and ground balls per game (3.12).
Redshirt senior attacker and 2026 captain Rayea Davis (Henrietta, N.Y.) joins Beran on the First Team as a unanimous selection.
Davis returns to the Huskies after a dominant 2025 campaign in which she led the team with 48 goals and 71 points, earning All-BIG EAST First Team honors. Davis scored a career-high six goals against Fairfield on February 12th and tallied a team season-high nine points at Hofstra on March 29th. Davis scored her 100th career goal against Yale on March 12th. Davis finished 2025 second in the conference with 4.12 points per game.
The Huskies were selected 3rd in the BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll, behind defending champion Denver and Villanova. UConn received one first-place vote in the poll.
UConn opens the 2026 season Saturday, February 7th, at 3pm in Philadelphia against Drexel.
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Denver (6) 36 pts.
2. Villanova 28
3. UConn (1) 26
4. Georgetown 24
5. Marquette 16
6. Butler 11
7. Xavier 6
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Rayea Davis, A, R-Sr., UConn^
Alex Dorr, DS, R-So., Denver^
Lexi Gwaku, GK, So. Denver
Megan Klingenberg, Sr., D- Denver^
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
Gracie Driggs, A, Sr., Georgetown^
Sophia Loschert, A, So., Georgetown
Kendall Steer, D, Sr., Georgetown
Hanna Bodner, M, Gr., Marquette^
Lauren Grady, M, Jr., Marquette
Tess Osburn, A, Sr., Marquette^
Mary Velner, D, Jr., Marquette
Rose Christie, M, Jr., Villanova^
Leslie Iorio, M, So., Villanova
Elena Torres, A, R-Jr., Villanova^
Emma Verhoest, DS, Jr., Villanova^
^denotes unanimous selection
*due to a tie, 17 players are on the All-BIG EAST Team
