IWLCA Releases Division III National Preseason Poll

LEXINGTON, Va. – The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) released its Division III National Preseason Poll recently and Washington and Lee was tabbed 19th in the rankings.
 
Franklin & Marshall topped the poll with 15 first-place votes and was followed by Salisbury (3), Gettysburg (2), Hamilton, College of New Jersey, Middlebury, Tufts, Catholic University and Colby in the top 10. ODAC-rival Roanoke College was ranked 17th in the poll.
 
The Generals will face six ranked opponents from the preseason poll, including Franklin & Marshall (No. 1), Salisbury (No. 2), Catholic University (No. 8), Union (No. 9), Cortland (No. 13) and Roanoke College (No. 17).
 
W&L finished the 2009 campaign 13-5 overall and had a 7-1 mark in conference play. The Generals advanced to the ODAC championship game for the seventh consecutive season before falling to Roanoke College.
 
The Generals return seven starters from last year, including 2009 First Team All-ODAC selections Britten Mathews (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) and Emmy Mathews (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr), along with 2009 Honorable Mention All-ODAC honoree Meredith Freeman (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS).
 
A senior attacker, Britten Mathews finished second on the team in scoring last spring with 43 points on 30 goals and 13 assists.  A junior midfielder, Emmy Mathews was the team’s leading scorer in 2009 with 48 points on 41 goals and seven assists.  A senior attacker, Freeman contributed 39 points on 30 goals and nine helpers a year ago.
 
W&L kicks off the 2010 campaign on February 24, traveling to No. 2 Salisbury for a 4:00 pm contest.

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