Women's Lacrosse Looks to Improve Conference Standing

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Western New England University has been selected as the favorite to win the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's lacrosse championship after receiving four first place votes and a total of 75 points in the CCC preseason coaches' poll. Endicott College placed second after receiving three first place votes and a total of 73 points. Roger Williams University claimed third with 62 points and one first place vote, while Gordon College (one first place vote) and the University of New England were tied for fourth after receiving 50 points to round out the top billing.

Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head women's lacrosse coaches.

The Golden Bears won 17 straight games in 2014 en route to its second CCC regular-season title. Their CCC tournament run was cut short despite a loss to Roger Williams in the semifinals. The No. 2 and No. 3 selections in the 2015 preseason poll faced off for the CCC crown a season ago. The Gulls went onto to defeat the Hawks at the buzzer 14-13 and claim their ninth CCC title.

Endicott went on to make its ninth-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament after earning the CCC's automatic bid. The Gulls were matched up with ninth-seeded Middlebury in the second round of the NCAA tournament. In a 19-7 setback, the Gulls ended their season 14-4 and were ranked ninth on the NCAA regional rankings poll.

Now in its third season of being a varsity program, Wentworth made tremendous strides from their inaugural season in 2013 to last season, as the Black & Gold tripled their win total as well as posting better numbers statistically, including goals scored and fewer goals allowed. First-year head coach Jessie Koffman welcomes 15 players from last year's squad, including senior Jessica Houghton, who had 37 points (29 goals, eight assists), 54 draw controls, 55 ground balls, and caused 22 turnovers. Junior Pam Mudge returns after scoring 37 points on 32 goals and five assists, while sophomore Molly Dufresne had 29 points a season ago. Seniors Alexandrea Banks (22 points, 26 caused turnovers, 51 ground balls) and Beverly Farris (16 caused turnovers) also return for the Leopards.

All nine CCC women's lacrosse teams will kick off their quest for the 2015 conference title within the next two weeks. The top six teams in the regular-season conference standings will qualify for the conference tournament, which will begin on Saturday, April 25 with quarterfinal action between seeds 3-6. The top two seeds will then host semifinal games on Wednesday, April 29 and the championship game will be held on Saturday, May 2 at the highest remaining seed.

2015 CCC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll