EDISON, N.J. - The
Marist women's lacrosse team was chosen to finish third in the Metro Atlantic
Athletic Conference according to the preseason coaches' poll that was released on
Wednesday. Coming off of a 6-10 season,
the Red Foxes earned 31 points in the poll, as did Siena, who tied for third in
the balloting. Defending MAAC Champion Canisius was voted first with 45 points,
while the MAAC regular season champion Fairfield was three points behind at 42.
Following Marist in the poll was Iona in fifth with 23. Manhattan and Niagara rounded out the poll in
a tie for sixth with 12 points, a piece.
The preseason All-MAAC team was also announced by the
league. The Red Foxes tied for the
league lead with Fairfield as they each had three players named to the team.
Representing Marist on the team were senior Kelly Condon (Roslyn, Pa.) and
sophomores Jamie Romano (Kings Park, N.Y.) and Bailey Knapton (Canandaigua,
N.Y.).
Condon begins her final season as a Red Fox ranked amongst
the top 10 all-time in goals (seventh-82), assists (fifth-49) and points (sixth-131).
She has led the team in points each of her past two seasons, with 68 points in
2010 and 48 in 2011.
Romano and Knapton both look to follow up outstanding freshmen
campaigns for second-year head coach Jessica O'Brien in 2012.
Romano, a First Team All-MAAC honoree, led the Red Foxes with
47 draw controls and 3.13 per game, an average that ranked second-best in the
MAAC and 20th in the NCAA in 2011. She also caused the second-most turnovers on
the team with 14 and was fourth in goals and point scoring with 22 goals and 25
points.
Knapton joined Romano as a member of the First Team All-MAAC.
She earned her accolades for her consistent presence from the defensive
midfield position. Knapton registered caused turnovers in 12 of Marist's 16
games and ground balls in 15. Her 2011 total of 19 caused turnovers was tops on
the team and fifth-best in the MAAC.
The Red Foxes begin their 2012 season next Saturday,
February 18 with a road contest against Lehigh University at 3 p.m.
