BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College women's lacrosse team was selected to finish in ninth place in the annual USA South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Defending champion Meredith College claimed preseason favorites after receiving 11 first-place votes and 121 total points in the poll.
Pfeiffer University placed second in the tabulation by receiving one first-place vote and 101 points. Pfeiffer and Brevard are in their final season of NCAA DIII transition and are ineligible for the USA South Women's Lacrosse Tournament, but both have the opportunity to enter the ECAC Women's Lacrosse Championships at the conclusion of the regular season, depending on overall final record.
Averett University finished in third with 97 points, while Piedmont College claimed the fourth-place spot with 90 points. Methodist University rounded out the top-five with 86 points in the poll.
Greensboro College (sixth, 62 points), William Peace University (seventh, 59 points), and NC Wesleyan College (eighth, 50 points) all finished ahead of BC's ninth-place slot.
Huntingdon College and Salem College were picked 10th and 11th respectively, while LaGrange College earned 12th in the poll.
|
2020 USA South Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll |
||
|
Rank |
Institution (1st Place Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Meredith^# (11) |
121 |
|
2. |
Pfeiffer* (1) |
101 |
|
3. |
Averett |
97 |
|
4. |
Piedmont |
90 |
|
5. |
Methodist |
86 |
|
6. |
Greensboro |
62 |
|
7. |
William Peace |
59 |
|
8. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
50 |
|
9. |
Brevard* |
45 |
|
10. |
Huntingdon |
40 |
|
11. |
Salem |
18 |
|
12. |
LaGrange |
14 |
|
*Ineligible for USA South Tournament (Div. III Reclassifying Member) |
||
The Tornados, led by fifth-year Head Coach Kristin Rosato, are coming off their second-consecutive six-win season. BC returns a total of 10 players from its 2019 team, including a group of five seniors - Diana Loaiza, Nicole O'Connor, Tabor Ryan, Micaiah Vacchiano, and Kelly Wilkins. Brevard also welcomes a freshman class of eight new Tornados.
Vacchiano led the Tornados with 39 goals and 42 points a year ago while returning sophomore Hannah Scharf scored 21 goals and dished out five assists for a total of 26 points. Defensively, KC Collins started every game in goal for BC, tallying 107 saves and 93 ground balls. Vacchiano causes a team-best 30 turnovers, while Scharf won a team-high 39 draw controls.
Brevard opens up its 2020 season on its first official date of practice with a scrimmage at Ives-Lemel Family Field when the Tornados host Lees-McRae College on Saturday, February 1 at 1 p.m. The regular season begins for the Tornados with a trip to Mount Berry, Georgia on Saturday, February 15 to play Berry College at 6 p.m., while the conference and home-opened for Brevard is on Saturday, February 29 against LaGrange College at 11 a.m.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, or like 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow "brevardcollege" on Flickr for the latest photos from all Brevard College events.
-30-