BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team has been picked to finish in third place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings as the 2024 MASCAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The Bears received 25 points in the poll. Westfield State University is the preseason favorite to capture the MASCAC regular season title as the three-time defending champion Owls picked up 36 points and six of the seven first-place votes. Framingham State University is second in the poll with 29 points and one first-place vote.

Under the guidance of head coach Erica Adams (9th Year), the BSU women's lacrosse team finished the 2023 season tied for second place in the MASCAC standings with a 5-2 conference mark (10-8 overall). Adams has guided the Bears to a 74-51 (.592) record over her first eight seasons at the helm with a 40-17 (.702) mark against conference opponents.

Veterans Savannah Herrington (Sr., A, Kinnelon, N.J.), Katherine Wrona (Sr., M, Belchertown, Mass.), Hannah Bowlby (Jr., M, Dalton, Mass.), Camryn Gonsalves (Jr., A, East Bridgewater, Mass.), Melanie McClay (Jr., M, Plymouth, Mass.), Erin McIntyre (Jr., M, Tewksbury, Mass.), Katy Shaw (Jr., A, Centerville, Mass.), Katie Lamothe (So., A, Dartmouth, Mass.), Ashley Silva (So., A, Rowley, Mass.) and Meredith Sylvia (So., M, South Dartmouth, Mass.) return to the lineup at the attack and midfield positions.

Returning to the defensive backfield for the Bears include Bridget Lane (Sr., Newburyport, Mass.), Chloe Bowman (Jr., Falmouth, Mass.), Mya Dupuy (Jr., Middleboro, Mass.) and Katie Murphy (Jr., Kingston, Mass.) as well as goaltenders Laura Giovaniello (Sr., Walpole, Mass.) and Brooke La Torra (Jr., Oak Park, Calif.)

Newcomers to the squad are Sara Mullin (Jr., D, Westport, Mass.), Kaylei Joseph (Fr., M, Fairhaven, Mass.), Abigail Lambert (Fr., A/M, Harrisville, R.I.) and Gianna Scarpelli (Fr., D, Medford, Mass.).

The BSU women's lacrosse team opens the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, February 21st as the Bears hosts Wheaton College at four o'clock. The MASCAC schedule gets underway on Tuesday, March 26th when the Bears travel to Massachusetts Maritime Academy to take on the Buccaneers at seven.