The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2017 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll & All-Conference
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Queens has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's women's lacrosse annual preseason poll, it was announced today by the league office. The League's head coaches gave the Royals eight first-place votes and a total of 80 points.
Lenior-Rhyne was voted No. 2 in the poll with 72 points and one first-place vote, while Wingate was voted No. 3 with 64 points. Tusculum came in fourth with 61 points and Catawba was selected No. 5 with 50 points. Brevard placed No. 6 with 46 points and Coker was voted No. 7 with 38 points. Newberry took the No. 8 spot with 30 points. Lincoln Memorial followed with 27 points at No. 8.
The South Atlantic Conference announced its preseason all conference honors. Queens had two student-athletes earn first-team attacker honors as Hanna Scott and Abigail Paulus received the honors. Along with the duo was Brevard's Caitlyn Nemeth, and Brittany Andrews of Wingate.
The preseason first-team All-SAC midfielders were represented by four separate member institutions. Kelly Dowd represented Queens, while Wingate placed Paulena Dempsey on the first-team mid fielder list. Catawba's Nicolette Salay also earned first-team honors and Madison Malone of Tusculum rounded out the list of first-team mid fielder honorees.
Lindsay Ordemann from Coker and teammate Marabeth Durden each picked up preseason first-team defender honors. Aarika Kaester from Queens and Wingate's Morgan Insel also earned first-team defender honors.
Ines Flueck of Lenoir-Rhyne finished up the list of preseason first-team honorees as she was named the first-team goalkeeper.
The 2017 South Atlantic Conference Women's Lacrosse schedule is set to get underway on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The 2017 South Atlantic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship is slated for April 26, 29 and 30 with quarterfinals at campus sites and the semifinals and finals at Queens University
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Total |
| 1. | Queens (8) | 80 |
| 2. | Lenoir-Rhyne (1) | 72 |
| 3. | Wingate | 64 |
| 4. | Tusculum | 61 |
| 5. | Catawba | 50 |
| 6. | Brevard | 46 |
| 7. | Coker | 38 |
| 8. | Newberry | 30 |
| 9. | Lincoln Memorial | 27 |
First Team
A- Caitlyn Nemeth, Brevard
A- Hanna Scott Queens
A- Abigail Pauus, Queens
A- Brittany Andrews, Wingate
MF- Kelly Dowd, Queens
MF- Paulena Dempsy, Wingate
MF- Nicolette Salay, Catawba
MF- Madison Malone, Tusculum
D- Lindsay Ordemann, Coker
D- Marabeth Durden, Coker
D- Aarika Kaester, Queens
D- Morgan Insel, Wingate
GK- Ines Flueck, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Team
A- Faith Kent, Coker
A- Alexandra Bruder, Queens
A- Torrey Schwitkis, Lenoir-Rhyne
A- Shannon O'Neal, Wingate
MF- Aubriana Benedetto, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF- Claudia Jenkins, Coker
MF- Hannah Scott, Catawba
MF- Amara Moss, Lincoln Memorial
D- Emily Kessler, Lenoir-Rhyne
D- Taylor Winters, Lenoir-Rhyne
D- Melissa Saganich, Lincoln Memorial
D- Noreen McAllister, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK- Arion Pierre, Wingate