Women's Lacrosse Predicted to Win Seventh Straight CCC Championship

2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
 
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --   Six-time defending Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) champions Endicott College has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2012 CCC women’s lacrosse championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league’s head women’s lacrosse coaches.
 
Endicott, who finished last year with a 14-7 record and a 10-1 conference mark, received five of a possible eight first-place votes in the 2012 CCC preseason poll. Western New England University was selected as the runner-up and received two first-place votes. Roger Williams University was slotted third, while Curry College and Gordon College were selected to finish fourth and fifth, respectively. Curry received the remaining first-place vote. University of New England, Salve Regina and Nichols rounded out the preseason voting.
 
The reigning 2011 CCC Champions are looking to capture another title this spring after triumphing 10-4 over the \#1 league tournament seed, Western New England. Endicott also beat Salve Regina and Curry before travelling to Springfield to knock off the Golden Bears. Endicott returned home to host an NCAA first round matchup against Tufts, where they fell 17-6.
 
Endicott welcomes back senior attacker Morgan DeShaw, who led the team with 66 goals and 19 assists last season. DeShaw earned All-CCC First-Team accolades, as well as a spot on the IWLCA All-Pilgrim Region First Team for her performance. Junior midfielder Holly Davis was second in goals as she netted 63 and contributed 13 assists, last season. Davis also earned Second Team recognition as an All-CCC player, and was selected for the IWLCA All-Pilgrim Region team, as well.
 
Other key players to keep an eye out for include senior starting goalkeeper Leah Neff, who made 154 saves in 21 contests and was slated an All-CCC Second Team selection, and sophomore defender Kelsey Barnes, who was an All-CCC Honorable Mention recipient for her efforts on the field (32 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers).
 
The Gulls will open their women’s lacrosse season on March 1^st at Southern Maine before playing their first home game March 7^th against Wellesley at 7:00 pm. Endicott will then travel to Orlando, Florida to play at the National Training Center tournament.