BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team has been picked to finish in fourth place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings as the 2022 MASCAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The Bears received 34 points in the poll. Westfield State University is the preseason favorite to capture the MASCAC regular season title as the Owls picked up 49 points and seven of the eight first-place votes. Worcester tate University is second in the poll with 41 points and one first-place vote, while Framingham State University (36 pts.) rounds out the top three teams.

Under the guidance of head coach Erica Adams (7th Year), the BSU women's lacrosse team finished the COVID adjusted 2021 season in fourth place in the MASCAC standings with a 1-3 conference mark (4-6 overall). Adams has guided the Bears to a 54-34 record over her first six seasons at the helm with a 29-10 mark against conference opponents.

Veterans Kelsi Brennan (Gr., M, Dedham, Mass.), Katie O'Brien (Jr., M, Pembroke, Mass.), Lily Carson (Sr., A, Medford, Mass.), Savannah Herrington (So. A, Kinnelon, N.J.), Jacqueline DeLorey (Sr. A, Westwood, Mass.), Katie Swart (Sr., M, Bridgewater, Mass.), Hayley Carron (Sr., M, Hopedale, Mass.), Katherine Wrona (So., M, Belchertown, Mass.), Katherine Tracy (Sr., A, Marion, Mass.), and Lindsay Brown (Sr., A/M, East Longmeadow, Mass.) return to the lineup at the attack and midfield positions.

Tracy was selected to the All-MASCAC Team in 2021, while Brennan earned All-MASCAC First Team honors in 2019.

Returning to the defensive backfield for the Bears include Taylor Carroll (Sr., D, Carver, Mass.), Kristen MacDonald (Sr., D, Hull, Mass.), Delaney Langton (Sr., D, Scituate, R.I.) and Jordan Brown (Sr., D, East Longmeadow, Mass.) as well as goaltenders Olivia Kerrigan (Jr., Braintree, Mass. ) and Laura Giovaniello (So., Walpole, Mass.).

Newcomers to the squad are Melanie McClay (Fr., A/M, Plymouth, Mass.), Nina Liquori (Fr., M, Agawam, Mass.), Sarah Lombard (Fr., D/M, Ipswich, Mass.), Olivia Rankin (Fr., M, Tyngsborough, Mass.), Mya Dupuy (Fr., D, Middleboro, Mass.), Erin McIntyre (Fr., M, Tewksbury, Mass.), Katie Murphy (Fr., D, Kingston, Mass.), Camryn Gonsalves (Fr., A, East Bridgewater, Mass.), Brooke La Torra (Fr., GK, Oak Park, Calif.), Katy Shaw (Fr., A, Centerville, Mass.), Erin Power (So., A, Byfield, Mass.), Abbie Fielding (Fr., D, Augusta, Maine) and Hannah Bowlby (Fr., M, Dalton, Mass.). 

The BSU women's lacrosse team opened the 2022 campaign on Tuesday night in New London, Connecticut as Bears dropped a 15-3 decision to Coast Guard Academy. Bridgewater's home opener is slated for Saturday afternoon (Feb. 25) as the Bears will entertain Mount Holyke College at one o'clock.