Defending Regular Season Champion Canisius, Favorites in MAAC Women's Lacrosse
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The defending regular season champion and 2015 runner-up, Canisius College, were selected as the favorites to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in 2016, according to the league's nine head coaches. Canisius earned 77 points with five first place votes to edge out Fairfield University, which earned 76 points.
The Golden Griffins compiled a 13-6 overall record and a perfect 8-0 league mark in their 2015 campaign. Canisius made a run to the championship title match but fell to second seeded Fairfield, 9-7, and came up short of setting a league record with its fifth consecutive conference championship crown. Canisius was the MAAC leader in goals (221), points (312), and outscored conference opponents 111-69 last season. Reigning Lids Team Sports MAAC Coach of the Year Scott Teeter, will look to all-league members Ashley Bull, Erica Evans, Sami Franco, and Taylor Giglio to guide the Griffs to the 2016 MAAC championship.
Canisius sophomore midfielder Erica Evans was selected as the 2016 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. The 2015 Midfielder and Rookie of the Year finished the season ranked fourth in the conference in goals per game (2.11) and fifth in goals (38). The Peterborough, Ontario native was named to the 2015 All-MAAC First Team, All-MAAC Rookie Team, IWLCA All-Region Second Team, and IL-Women All-Rookie Team. Evans also recorded 29 draw controls, 27 ground balls, and nine assists in her rookie year while starting in all 18 games for the Griffs.
Defending MAAC champion, Fairfield, was a close second in the poll receiving 76 points and the final four first place votes. The Stags put together a 14-5 overall record with a 7-1 conference mark in 2015. Fairfield edged Canisius in the championship finale en route to its third title in program history. The Stags led the MAAC in goals against average (7.38) and save percentage (51.5%) in 2016. Fairfield returns 2015 championship MVP and All-MAAC First Team member, goalie Chelsea Sidaras. She will be joined by All-MAAC Second Team selections, Riley Hellstein and Melissa Laible this season.
Monmouth University finished with 61 points, good for third in the poll. The Hawks recorded a 12-6 overall record and put together a 6-2 league mark in 2015. Monmouth brings back Marial Pierce and Kristina Vangeli which both earned first team All-MAAC honors in 2015.
Marist College finished in fourth receiving 53 votes, while Siena College rounded out the top five with 45 points. Niagara University picked up 34 points, good for sixth, and Iona College received 27 votes for seventh. Manhattan College finished in eight with 19 votes, and Quinnipiac University rounded out the poll with 13 points.
The preseason All-MAAC team consists of Canisius’ Giglio, Fairfield’s Hellstein, Marist’s Allison Gionta, and Monmouth’s Pierce at the attack. At midfield are Bull and Evans of Canisius, and Kara McHugh of Marist. Canisius’ Franco and Nicole Nelson, Fairfield’s Laible, Iona’s Gabriella Di Domizio, Monmouth’s Vangeli, Niagara’s Kara Martin, and Quinnipiac’s Kiera Kelly make up the defense. The goalie is Sidaras of Fairfield.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
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1.
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Canisius
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77
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2.
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Fairfield
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76
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3.
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Monmouth
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61
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4.
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Marist
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53
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5.
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Siena
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45
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6.
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Niagara
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34
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7.
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Iona
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27
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8.
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Manhattan
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19
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9.
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Quinnipiac
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13
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Preseason All-MAAC Team
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Taylor Giglio
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Attack
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Canisius
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Riley Hellstein
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Attack
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Fairfield
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Allison Gionta
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Attack
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Marist
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Marial Pierce
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Attack
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Monmouth
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Ashley Bull
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Midfield
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Canisius
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Erica Evans
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Midfield
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Canisius
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Kara McHugh
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Midfield
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Marist
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Sami Franco
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Defense
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Canisius
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Nicole Nelson
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Defense
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Canisius
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Melissa Laible
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Defense
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Fairfield
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Gabriella Di Domizio
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Defense
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Iona
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Kristina Vangeli
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Defense
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Monmouth
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Kara Martin
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Defense
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Niagara
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Kiera Kelly
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Defense
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Quinnipiac
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Chelsey Sidaras
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Goalie
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Fairfield
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Preseason Player of the Year
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Erica Evans
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Midfield
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Canisius
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