PHILADELPHIA TOPS FIRST-EVER CACC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRE-SEASON POLL

NEW HAVEN, CT (February 19, 2009)  -  Women's lacrosse will be a sponsored sport in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) for the first time in 2009, and Philadelphia University has been selected to win the regular-season championship according to balloting released today. The Rams collected four of the six first-place votes in the inaugural preseason poll, while Georgian Court was tabbed first on two ballots. The six CACC women's lacrosse head coaches conducted the voting.

Philadelphia went 12-5 overall last year and 2-4 as a member of the East Coast Conference. The team went 6-0 against teams that are now members of the CACC. The Lady Rams will be guided by first-year head coach George Chis-Luca. Leading the Philadelphia offense will be top returning goal-scorer, junior midfielder Kathleen Maurer, who registered 31 goals last season to rank fourth on the team. She also dished out 11 assists fo r a total of 42 points. Senior Kathryn Sheehan will be back to anchor the defense after starting 16 of 17 games in 2008. Also returning for the defense is junior goalkeeper Kelly Staerk, who started 12 of 17 games last season .

Georgian Court picked up two first-place votes and was just two points behind Philadelphia with 32. The Lions went 11-5 last season, including a 6-2 mark against current CACC members. The Lions had nine players score double-digit points and all of them will be back in 2009, including leading-scorer Jillian Hadfield. Hadfield, a junior, tallied 68 points on 29 goals and 39 assists in 16 games last season. Junior Ryan McGrath paced the squad in goals with 43 and Allison Abbate recorded 55 points on 37 goals and 18 assists. Junior goalie Christine Latteri is also back after starting 15 of 16 games and earning an 8.16 goals-against average.  

Wilmington finished third in the poll with 22 points after compiling a 9-6 record last season. Leading the young Wildcats will be first-year head coach Jaime Neave. Four captains will guide the squad this season in seniors Kelly Wojechowski, Catie Joynes and Kelsey LaPlume and junior Amber Smith. Wojechowski is the team's leading returning scorer after recording 29 goals and 14 assists last season for a total of 43 points.

Chestnut Hill was picked fourth with 17 points, Dominican was fifth with 11 points and Holy Family was selected sixth with 10 points. Holy Family is fielding a women's lacrosse team for the first time. The Griffins, Chargers and Tigers will all have first-year head coaches leading the way in 2009.

Georgian Court will host the inaugural CACC Women's Lacrosse Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26 in Lakewood, NJ. It will be a four-team single-elimination tournament.

	CACC Women's Lacrosse
	2009 Preseason Poll
School	2008 Record	Points
1. Philadelphia (4)	12-5	34
2. Georgian Court (2)	11-5	32
3. Wilmington	9-6	22
4. Chestnut Hill	4-11	17
5. Dominican	2-12	11
6. Holy Family	-	10
() - First Place Votes