Army West Point Athletics
Women's Lax Picked Fourth in League's Preseason Poll
January 20, 2020 | Women's Lacrosse
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Army West Point women's lacrosse team was picked to finish fourth with 104 points in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released on Tuesday morning.
"We are in a great position to start this season," Noto Family Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Kristen Skiera said. "We return a lot of veteran players who have great experience and understanding of what it takes to compete for a championship in this league. This year's 2020 team is a very cohesive and competitive group. We have high expectations of ourselves following a groundbreaking 2019 season, and I know we are equipped with the tools to be able to rise to the challenges this season will present."
A year after making their first-ever Patriot League Tournament appearance and claiming the program's first-ever league tournament victory, the Black Knights received their highest preseason poll mark in the five-year history of the program.
Loyola, the defending league champs, was picked to repeat as champions with 16 first-place votes and 160 overall points. Navy (148 points) was chosen to finish second and was the only other school to receive first-place votes after reeling in four. Boston University (122) was picked to place third, just ahead of the Black Knights, while Lehigh (91) rounded out the top-five.
Jackie Brattan, Maddie Burns, Samantha Stewart and Caroline Raymond were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team. It marks the first time in the program's history that multiple Cadets earned preseason all-league praise. With four cadets on the preseason team, the Black Knights tied Loyola for the most heading into the 2020 campaign.
"It is super exciting to see four of our players receive pre-season recognition," Skiera said. "Maddie has been one of the most consistent keepers in the league over the last few years. Jackie is one of the most dynamic players involved in the draw and offense in the entire nation. Caroline was one of the most exciting freshman to watch last season and has only continued to develop her game further in the offseason. And finally, Sami is a force to be reckoned with all over the field and has stepped up her intensity for her final season."
Brattan, who was one of the top scoring threats in the nation last year, returns for her third season with the Black Knights. The junior attack posted a 65-point season after tallying a program-best 63 goals to pair with two assists. She finished second in the Patriot League and 21st in the nation in goals scored. The Garden City, N.Y., native did a ton of her damage on the 8-meter, scoring a team-best 17 free position goals while leading the country in free position shot percentage (.773). She also was a threat around the draw circle as she broke the single-season program record for draw controls with 93 before becoming the first in program history to reach 100.
Burns, a two-time team captain who has been a staple in between the pipes during her career, enters her final season with the Black Knights. The Ridgefield, Conn., native posted a 12-3 record during a stellar junior campaign and made 136 saves. She notched double-digit saves in eight outings and held a .458 save percentage.
Stewart is coming off a superb career year after she posted career bests in points (50), goals (38) and assists (21). She ranked third on the team in all three offensive categories and finished third in draw controls with 79. As one of only four Cadets in program history with over 100 career points, the senior captain will look to build off a season in which she logged eight hat tricks and recorded at least one point in 18 of 19 outings.
Raymond, the reigning Patriot League and ECAC Rookie of the Year, had a freshman season for the ages. The Mahopac, N.Y., native led Army with a program-best 67 points after tallying 43 goals and a program-high 24 assists. She was the third cadet in program history to score over 50 points in a single season and the first to eclipse the 60-point mark.
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll:
1. Loyola Maryland (16 first-place votes), 160
2. Navy (4), 148
3. Boston University, 122
4. Army West Point, 104
5. Lehigh 91
6. Colgate, 85
7. Holy Cross, 56
8. American, 46
T9. Bucknell, 36
T9. Lafayette, 36
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Major Awards:
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-League Team:
Emma Vinall, American, Jr., Attack
Jackie Brattan, Army West Point, Jr., Attack
Caroline Raymond, Army West Point, So., Attack
Samantha Stewart, Army West Point, Sr., Midfielder
Maddie Burns, Army West Point, Sr. Goalkeeper
Kailey Conry, Boston University, Sr., Attack
Emily Vervlied, Boston University, Jr., Midfielder
Danielle Van Calcar, Colgate, Jr., Midfielder
Sondra Dickey, Lehigh, Sr., Midfielder
Livy Rosenzweig, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Attack
Sam Fielder, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Midfielder
Elli Kluegel, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Midfielder
Katie Detwiler, Loyola Maryland, So., Defender
Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Kayla Harris, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
For more information on Army women's lacrosse, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow ArmyWP_Wlax on Twitter and Instagram.
"We are in a great position to start this season," Noto Family Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Kristen Skiera said. "We return a lot of veteran players who have great experience and understanding of what it takes to compete for a championship in this league. This year's 2020 team is a very cohesive and competitive group. We have high expectations of ourselves following a groundbreaking 2019 season, and I know we are equipped with the tools to be able to rise to the challenges this season will present."
A year after making their first-ever Patriot League Tournament appearance and claiming the program's first-ever league tournament victory, the Black Knights received their highest preseason poll mark in the five-year history of the program.
Loyola, the defending league champs, was picked to repeat as champions with 16 first-place votes and 160 overall points. Navy (148 points) was chosen to finish second and was the only other school to receive first-place votes after reeling in four. Boston University (122) was picked to place third, just ahead of the Black Knights, while Lehigh (91) rounded out the top-five.
Jackie Brattan, Maddie Burns, Samantha Stewart and Caroline Raymond were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team. It marks the first time in the program's history that multiple Cadets earned preseason all-league praise. With four cadets on the preseason team, the Black Knights tied Loyola for the most heading into the 2020 campaign.
"It is super exciting to see four of our players receive pre-season recognition," Skiera said. "Maddie has been one of the most consistent keepers in the league over the last few years. Jackie is one of the most dynamic players involved in the draw and offense in the entire nation. Caroline was one of the most exciting freshman to watch last season and has only continued to develop her game further in the offseason. And finally, Sami is a force to be reckoned with all over the field and has stepped up her intensity for her final season."
Brattan, who was one of the top scoring threats in the nation last year, returns for her third season with the Black Knights. The junior attack posted a 65-point season after tallying a program-best 63 goals to pair with two assists. She finished second in the Patriot League and 21st in the nation in goals scored. The Garden City, N.Y., native did a ton of her damage on the 8-meter, scoring a team-best 17 free position goals while leading the country in free position shot percentage (.773). She also was a threat around the draw circle as she broke the single-season program record for draw controls with 93 before becoming the first in program history to reach 100.
Burns, a two-time team captain who has been a staple in between the pipes during her career, enters her final season with the Black Knights. The Ridgefield, Conn., native posted a 12-3 record during a stellar junior campaign and made 136 saves. She notched double-digit saves in eight outings and held a .458 save percentage.
Stewart is coming off a superb career year after she posted career bests in points (50), goals (38) and assists (21). She ranked third on the team in all three offensive categories and finished third in draw controls with 79. As one of only four Cadets in program history with over 100 career points, the senior captain will look to build off a season in which she logged eight hat tricks and recorded at least one point in 18 of 19 outings.
Raymond, the reigning Patriot League and ECAC Rookie of the Year, had a freshman season for the ages. The Mahopac, N.Y., native led Army with a program-best 67 points after tallying 43 goals and a program-high 24 assists. She was the third cadet in program history to score over 50 points in a single season and the first to eclipse the 60-point mark.
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll:
1. Loyola Maryland (16 first-place votes), 160
2. Navy (4), 148
3. Boston University, 122
4. Army West Point, 104
5. Lehigh 91
6. Colgate, 85
7. Holy Cross, 56
8. American, 46
T9. Bucknell, 36
T9. Lafayette, 36
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Major Awards:
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-League Team:
Emma Vinall, American, Jr., Attack
Jackie Brattan, Army West Point, Jr., Attack
Caroline Raymond, Army West Point, So., Attack
Samantha Stewart, Army West Point, Sr., Midfielder
Maddie Burns, Army West Point, Sr. Goalkeeper
Kailey Conry, Boston University, Sr., Attack
Emily Vervlied, Boston University, Jr., Midfielder
Danielle Van Calcar, Colgate, Jr., Midfielder
Sondra Dickey, Lehigh, Sr., Midfielder
Livy Rosenzweig, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Attack
Sam Fielder, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Midfielder
Elli Kluegel, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Midfielder
Katie Detwiler, Loyola Maryland, So., Defender
Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Kayla Harris, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
Student-athletes are listed by position; then alphabetically by school
For more information on Army women's lacrosse, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow ArmyWP_Wlax on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Attack
/ Women's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfield/Attack
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfield
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