Four-Time Defending Champions Canisius Favorites in MAAC Women's Lacrosse
MAAC Sports
Edison, NJ – The four-time defending champions, Canisius College, were selected as the favorites to win its fifth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in 2015, according to the league's nine head coaches.
The Golden Griffins compiled a 12-7 overall record and a 6-2 league mark in their 2014 campaign. Canisius capped off its 2014 season with an 11-9 victory over top-seeded Marist in the MAAC Championship title game, claiming the programs fourth consecutive crown and tying Le Moyne for the most women’s lacrosse championships in conference history.
Canisius’ Tori Quinn was selected as the 2015 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. The two-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Year finished 2014 ranked third in the conference in points (71), goals (47), and assists (24). The senior attack from Orangeville, Ontario, became the eighth Griff in program history to score 100 career goals. Quinn was named to the 2014 All-Championship Team and became the first ever Canisius women’s lacrosse player to earn back-to-back All-Region honors. She also compiled 29 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers, and 16 draw controls in 2014.
Canisius received 79 points and seven of the nine first place votes in the poll. 2014 MAAC Championship runner-ups, Marist College, were second in the poll with 72 points and received the final two first place votes. 2014 Regular season co-champions, Fairfield University, finished with 60 points for third in the poll. Monmouth University finished in fourth receiving 59 votes, while Quinnipiac University rounded out the top five with 39 points. Niagara University picked up 34 points, good for sixth, and Siena College received 32 votes for seventh. Iona College finished in eight with 16, and Manhattan College received 14 votes to round out the poll.
The preseason All-MAAC team consists of unanimous selection Quinn, Marist’s Allison Gionta, and Quinnipiac’s Kyra Ochwat at the attack. At midfield are Ashley Bull (unanimous choice) and Meghan Cuddy of Canisius, Kara McHugh of Marist, Allison Stathius of Monmouth, and Julia Sirianni of Siena. Fairfield’s Meghan Reda, Marist’s Christine Astarita and Tina Pumo, and Quinnipiac’s Vicki Kuhn make up the defense. The keeper is Chelsey Sidaras of Fairfield.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
1.
|
Canisius
|
79
|
|
2.
|
Marist
|
72
|
|
3.
|
Fairfield
|
60
|
|
4.
|
Monmouth
|
59
|
|
5.
|
Quinnipiac
|
39
|
|
6.
|
Niagara
|
34
|
|
7.
|
Siena
|
32
|
|
8.
|
Iona
|
16
|
|
9.
|
Manhattan
|
14
|
Preseason All-MAAC Team
|
Tori Quinn*
|
Attack
|
Canisius
|
|
Allison Gionta
|
Attack
|
Marist
|
|
Kyra Ochwat
|
Attack
|
Quinnipiac
|
|
Ashley Bull*
|
Midfield
|
Canisius
|
|
Meghan Cuddy
|
Midfield
|
Canisius
|
|
Kara McHugh
|
Midfield
|
Marist
|
|
Allison Stathius
|
Midfield
|
Monmouth
|
|
Julia Sirianni
|
Midfield
|
Siena
|
|
Meghan Reda
|
Defense
|
Fairfield
|
|
Christine Astarita
|
Defense
|
Marist
|
|
Tina Pumo
|
Defense
|
Marist
|
|
Vicki Kuhn
|
Defense
|
Quinnipiac
|
|
Chelsey Sidaras
|
Goalie
|
Fairfield
|
Preseason Player of the Year
|
Tori Quinn
|
Attack
|
Canisius
|
*Denotes unanimous selection