KESSLER
HobbsDailyReport.com
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Led by two players selected as first-team preseason all-conference, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s women’s lacrosse team has been picked to tie Wingate for second place this season in a poll of South Atlantic Conference (SAC) head coaches.
The voting totals were released by the SAC on Monday, with Queens tabbed as the league favorite with 72 points. The Royals have won four straight regular-season league titles and they’re No. 5 in the NCAA Division II Nike/US Lacrosse preseason rankings.
LRU picked up 60 points, as did Wingate.
The Bears’ two first-team preseason All-SAC picks are sophomore midfielder Alyssa Sack of Senoia, Ga., and senior defender Emily Kessler of Syracuse, N.Y.
SACK
LRU has two second-team all-league picks – junior defender Gabby Sousa of Delran, N.J., and junior midfielder Rachel Moore of White Plains, Md.
Sack finished second in goals scored (37) for LRU last season to go along with 12 assists, 49 total points and a team-leading 45 draw controls, while Kessler totaled 22 ground balls and anchored a defense that allowed 10.36 goals per contest. Both players were named to the 2017 All-SAC second-team.
Sousa was the Bears’ top offensive player last year with a team-high 50 goals and 58 points, and Elmore had 17 goals, seven assists, 24 points and 34 draw controls.
LRU went 11-8 overall and 5-3 in the SAC last season.
The Bears open the season Feb. 20 at home with a 5 p.m. match against Belmont Abbey.
2018 SAC WOMEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
(as voted on by conference head coaches)
1. Queens (8) 72
2t. Wingate (1) 60
2t. LENOIR-RHYNE 60
4. Coker 50
5. Tusculum 44
6. Catawba 40
7. Lincoln Memorial 30
8. Newberry 22
9. Mars Hill 18
ALL-SAC PRESEASON TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
A – Faith Kent, Coker
A – Hanna Scott, Queens
A – Shannon O’Neal, Wingate
A – Haley McCusker, Coker
MF – Madison Malone, Tusculum
MF – Alyssa Sack, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Nicole Hunt, Catawba
MF – Casey Kelly, Lincoln Memorial
D – Cammy Case, Queens
D – Hannah Scott, Catawba
D – Jasmin Singh, Queens
D – Emily Kessler, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Arion Pierre, Wingate
SECOND TEAM
A – Gianna Pezzulo, Catawba
A – Savannah Elliott, Tusculum
A – Gabby Sousa, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Ally Blood, Queens
MF – Rachel Elmore, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Emily Ketron, Wingate
MF – Jasmin Click, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Katie Simpson, Queens
D – Becky Frost, Catawba
D – Juliette Cusano, Tusculum
D – Rachel Dillon, Newberry
D – Zoe Zervos, Lincoln Memorial
GK – Chase Brokaw, Queens
- Reported by LRU Sports Information