LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Earning three first-place votes, the IUP women's lacrosse program was tabbed second in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West preseason coaches' poll, released on Thursday afternoon.
IUP slots behind preseason favorite Seton Hill, which picked up four of seven first-place votes in the division. Slippery Rock followed in third, with Mercyhurst, Lock Haven, Gannon and Edinboro rounding out the PSAC West.
In the PSAC East, West Chester was the preseason favorite with six first-place votes, entering the 2024 campaign third in the national rankings. East Stroudsburg followed in second place.
Overall, the PSAC has five programs ranked or receiving votes in the IWLCA DII Preseason Poll: West Chester (3rd), East Stroudsburg (8th), Kutztown (19th), Seton Hill (20th) and IUP (RV).
The Crimson Hawks open the 2024 season on Tuesday, February 27 at Miller Stadium, facing Georgian Court at 3:00 p.m.
Last season
IUP went 12-6 last season, posting a 10-2 mark in conference play. The Crimson Hawks made the conference tournament, losing in overtime to Mercyhurst in the opening round.
The Hawks finished ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region and had a program-record four IWLCA All-Region honorees for head coach
Brenna Gallagher Roan (42-27 at IUP).
Who's back for IUP
IUP is loaded with returning talent in 2024, returning all four 2023 IWLCA All-Region honorees in
Sarah Reustle,
Kathryn Burke (49G),
Maggie Marsteller and
Sami Shutt.
Reustle is a two-time all-region honoree that looks to continue the stellar offensive trajectory she set in 2023, boasting 87 career points (60G, 19A), 103 ground balls, 61 caused turnovers and 160 draw controls. Burke led the team with 56 points in 2023, posting two game-winning markers last season.
Marsteller and Shutt are both two-time all-conference honorees and should be anchors along the IUP defensive unit.
Additionally, IUP welcomes back
Chantal Jimenez (96 Pts) at the draw control circle, along with sophomores
Macenzie Haragos,
Leah Moyer (34G in 2023),
Rachel Knight and goalie
Maddy Schramm. All four sophomores saw extensive playing time in their first season in 2023, while Jimenez is fourth in school history with 262 career draw controls.
Senor
Kim Carpentiere is also back defensively, along with midfielders
Rylee Wilson and
Emme Mass and attack
Brenna Whiteside.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP women's lacrosse program, follow the Crimson Hawks on X (Twitter) and Instagram @IUPlacrosse and online at IUPAthletics.com.
2024 PSAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
WEST (# of first-place votes)
1. Seton Hill (4)
2. IUP (3)
3. Slippery Rock
4. Mercyhurst
5. Lock Haven
6. Gannon
7. Edinboro
EAST (# of first-place votes)
1. West Chester (6)
2. East Stroudsburg (1)
3. Kutztown
4. Millersville
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shepherd
7. Shippensburg
