ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Lacrosse Team has been picked to finish 12th in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Thursday. Coker University was selected 11th by the voters prior to informing the conference they will not be participating in the 2024 season due to an inadequate number of players.

RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams

Wingate University, the reigning SAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion is first in the poll with 11 of 12 first-place votes. Newberry College is second while Limestone University received the other first-place vote in third. The University of Virginia's College at Wise is fourth and Lincoln Memorial University rounds out the top five. 

2024 will be a memorable year for the Emory & Henry athletic department as it is the first season of women's lacrosse in the history of the program. The Wasps are led by head coach Tom Flynn who will look to a roster of fresh faces, including three transfers, to get E&H off on the right foot in the South Atlantic Conference. 

The Wasps get their inaugural season underway on Wednesday, February 7 when they make the trip to Georgia to take on the Bears of Truett McConnell University. E&H hosts Warner University on Friday, February 9 for the first home game in program history before embarking on a five-game road trip that will see them face off against Davis & Elkins College (Feb. 11), Emmanuel (Ga.) University (Feb. 17), Anderson (S.C.) University (Feb. 24), West Virginia Wesleyan University (Mar. 2) and Virginia State University (Mar. 9).

The Wasps return home on Wednesday, March 9 for their first home South Atlantic Conference matchup against Mars Hill University. Emory & Henry then faces a tough three-game road swing at defending SAC champion and preseason favorite Wingate University (Mar. 16) before traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne (Mar. 21) and wrapping up by making the short trip to challenge Southwest Virginia rivals the University of Virginia's College at Wise (Mar. 27). E&H finishes the month of March with a game against Limestone University (Mar. 30).

April begins with a trip to South Carolina to take on the Wolves of Newberry College (Apr. 3) then back-to-back home tilts against Catawba College (Apr. 10) and Tusculum University (Apr. 13). The Wasps will conclude their initial regular season at Lincoln Memorial (Apr. 17). 

--E&H--

2024 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

2024 Preseason All-SAC Women's Lacrosse Teams

First Team
A – Cassell Richardson, Newberry
A – Hannah Thomas, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Kaitlyn Cavanaugh, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Kaleigh Wilgeroth, Wingate 

MF – Leah Knowles, Wingate
MF – Marissa Plumer, Newberry
MF – Reese Hjertaas, Limestone
MF – Alicia Cannon, Anderson 

D – Bailey Stumpf, Limestone
D – Keira Crilly, Limestone
D – Katie Koroly, Wingate
D – Madalyn Messersmith, Newberry 

GK – Megan Biase, Wingate

Second Team
A – Ella Todd, Newberry
A – Joscelin Martin, Limestone
A – Abby Stoffelen, UVA Wise
A – Megan Davis, Limestone 

MF – Emma Jobs, Newberry
MF – Lucy Brewer, Tusculum
MF – Chloe Christensen, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Caitlyn Schultz, UVA Wise 

D – Delaney Duck, Lincoln Memorial
D – Krysta Churns, Wingate
D – Jackie Tiongco, Anderson
D – Toni Morgon, Mars Hill 

GK – Kyleigh Eaton, Limestone

Third Team
A – Nelida Watson, Wingate
A – Jolan Morey, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Rylee Johnson, Limestone
A – Chandler Bell, Lincoln Memorial 

MF – Sarah Dudick, Limestone
MF – Jaedyn Ryba, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Claire Fuchs, Wingate
MF – Ellie Campbell, Lenoir-Rhyne 

D – Celeste Raya, Tusculum
D – Mary Kostus, Lincoln Memorial
D – Paige Volpone, UVA Wise
D – Taryn Moreno, UVA Wise 

GK – Emily White, Tusculum