NEW YORK – With the start of the season around the corner, the BIG EAST women's lacrosse head coaches recently took time to vote on the 2017 preseason poll. Florida earned nine of the 10 first place votes to land in first place with 81 points. The Bulldogs, entering their first season as a program, rounded out the poll in 10th.
 
"We are excited to begin our inaugural season as a full member of the BIG EAST Conference," Head Coach Cecil C. Pilson stated. "We look forward to showing the NCAA Division I lacrosse community that the Bulldogs are ready to accept the challenge associated with starting up a new lacrosse program."
 
The Gators were clear-cut favorites in the poll, but second place was only separated by five points between UConn and Georgetown. The Huskies landed in second place with 68 points with the Hoyas close behind in third (63).
 
Denver and Temple are each in the BIG EAST Conference for women's lacrosse. Those two programs are picked to finish fourth and fifth in the preseason poll. Marquette edged Vanderbilt for sixth place, even though Vanderbilt received a first place vote.
 
Villanova, Cincinnati and Butler round out the poll with 31, 17 and nine points respectively. The first-ever BU roster includes 16 freshmen, five transfers and seven additional student-athletes who all attended Butler prior to this year.
 
The season opener will be played at home this year on Feb. 12 when the Bulldogs host Liberty at 11 AM. BIG EAST action will also get underway at Varsity Field with Butler hosting Georgetown on March 18.
 
BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
1) Florida – 81 points (9 first-place votes)
2) Connecticut – 68
3) Georgetown – 63
4) Denver – 55
5) Temple – 45
6) Marquette – 41
7) Vanderbilt – 40 (1 first-place vote)
8) Villanova – 31
9) Cincinnati – 17
10) Butler – 9
 
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida
Sammi Burgess, Florida*
Cassie Eckstrom, Connecticut
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida*
Morgan Glassford, Temple*
Callahan Kent, Vanderbilt
Allison Lane, Marquette*
Brenda McDermott, Temple
Nicole Martindale, Denver
Grace Nolan, Connecticut*
Shayna Pirreca, Florida
Lindsey Ronbeck, Florida*
Julianna Schearer, Marquette
Mollie Stevens, Florida
Francesca Whitehurst, Georgetown*
 
Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year
Sammi Burgess, Florida
Lindsey Ronbeck, Florida
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida*
 
*unanimous selection