EDISON, NJ (Feb. 8, 2023) – Four-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Champion, Fairfield University, has been selected as the favorite to win a fifth straight title in the 2023 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while Siena College fifth year, Mary Soures was named Preseason Player of the Year, as voted on by the league’s nine head coaches.
The Stags collected seven out of the nine available first-place votes, compiling 78 points to make them the favorite to repeat as MAAC champions in 2023. Fairfield’s dynasty run continued in 2022, with the Stags winning a fourth consecutive MAAC trophy after topping former member and No. 1 seed Monmouth, 14-11 in the championship match. In 2022, Fairfield went 13-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference play, with the team’s 13 wins the most among all other MAAC institutions. The Stags have won four straight league crowns dating back to 2018 and have claimed a league-best seven overall MAAC championships since 2001. Additionally, Fairfield has made the most appearances in the tournament final round, making it to the title game 13 times.
Coming in a two-way tie for second-place with 68 points each and both receiving one of the final two first-place votes, were conference newcomer Mount St. Mary’s University and Siena College. Niagara University followed in fourth-place, earning 51 points, and Canisius College rounded out the league’s top-five with 39 points.
Siena veteran, Soures, was chosen as the 2023 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and was one of just two unanimous selections to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Despite being a midfielder primarily, the fifth year was one of the top offensive players in the MAAC during 2022, pacing the conference in goals per game (4.36) and shots per game (8.79) while ranking third in points per game (4.64). Additionally, Soures’ 61 goals and 123 total shots both ranked second among MAAC players, while her 65 points were sixth-best in the conference. Over her stellar career, she has earned all-league honors a trio of times, being named to the All-MAAC Second Team in 2022, First-Team in 2021, and Rookie Team in 2019.
The rest of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2023 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
78 (7) |
| T2 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
68 (1) |
| T2 |
Siena |
68 (1) |
| 4 |
Niagara |
51 |
| 5 |
Canisius |
39 |
| 6 |
Iona |
29 |
| 7 |
Manhattan |
27 |
| 8 |
Marist |
23 |
| 9 |
Quinnipiac |
22 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Mary Soures – Siena |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Elizabeth Talluto |
Attack |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Kerri Gutenberger |
Attack |
Sr. |
Marist |
| Lexi Brainecki |
Attack |
Jr. |
Niagara |
| Lois Garlow |
Attack |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Skylar McArthur |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Canisius |
| Nicollette LaVista |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Kira Varada |
Midfield |
So. |
Iona |
| Mary Soures* |
Midfield |
5Y |
Siena |
| Caroline Mangan |
Defense |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Andrea Liotta* |
Defense |
Sr. |
Manhattan |
| Margaret Lonergan |
Defense |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary’s |
| Abigail Zeigenfuse |
Defense |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary’s |
| Jenna Colabufo |
Defense |
Sr. |
Siena |
| Kat Henselder |
Goalkeeper |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
*Denotes unanimous selection
The 2023 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship is a six-team, single-elimination tournament taking place April 30 - May 7, 2023. The Opening Round will take place on Sunday, April 30 and will be hosted by the third and fourth seeds. The semifinal and final are set for Friday, May 5 and Sunday, May 7, with the highest overall seed set to serve as host. For all information regarding the 2023 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wlax.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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