By Matt Faulkner
(Center Valley, Pa. – Jan. 31, 2013) The Colgate women’s lacrosse team was selected to finish third in the annual Patriot League Preseason Poll and sophomore Jennie Berglin took home preseason defensive player of the year honors.
The poll consists of votes from each Patriot League coach and sports information director and they cannot vote for their own school.
Navy was picked to win the league with 72 points and all 12 first-place votes from the other six schools. Holy Cross, which finished as runner-up to the Mids last season, took second place in the poll with 55 points and two first-place votes. The next group of teams was closely bunched with Colgate (44), Lehigh (39), American (38) and Lafayette (34) ahead of Bucknell (12).
Berglin claimed the Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor. Navy senior attack Jasmine DePompeo was voted as the Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, as the two-time honoree of the award now receives the title in the preseason for the second year in a row.
DePompeo and Berglin also headline the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team. DePompeo is on the attack along with fellow seniors Addie Godfrey (Lafayette), Kimberly Collins (American) and Taylor Zebrowski (Holy Cross) as well as Lehigh sophomore Carli Sukonik. The midfield includes seniors Emily Burton (American) and Julie McBrien(Lehigh), junior Ana White (Lafayette) and sophomores Laura Ryan (Holy Cross) and Jess Fellows (Navy). Navy senior Brijet Mall, Lafayette junior Rachel Martin and Colgate sophomore Jenna Frost make up the defense, with Navy senior Michelle Verbeeck along with Berglin as the goalkeepers.
Thirteen of the 15 players earned All-Patriot League status last year, with six that made the first team. Overall, 18 of the 24 All-League selections from last season will return to the field in2013.
Colgate is coming off yet another strong season, as the Raiders tied Holy Cross for second place at 4-2 in the Patriot League before falling to the Crusaders in the League Tournament semifinals. The Raiders will move forward without Courtney Miller, the 2012 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year who concluded her brilliant career in the top 10 in League history in points, goals, assists and draw controls. Defense should be a strength for the team, with Berglin earning first-team All-Patriot League honors last year while posting an 11.89 goals against average. Frost leads the defense as well after receiving second-team All-Patriot League honors last season, while Amanda O’Sullivan (31 goals, five assists) and Alison Flood (24 goals, three assists) are the leading returning goal-scorers.
The 2013 women’s lacrosse season begins on Feb. 10 when Navy hosts Winthrop, with Patriot League play opening up on March 9. Four teams qualify for the 2013 Patriot League Tournament, which will be played at the site of the highest seed with the semifinals on April 26and championship on April 28.
2013 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Navy, 72 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross, 55 (2)
3. Colgate, 44
4. Lehigh, 39
5. American, 38
6. Lafayette, 34
7. Bucknell, 12
Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jasmine
DePompeo, Navy (Sr., A)
Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jennie Berglin, Colgate (So., GK)
Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: Kimberly Collins, American (Sr.); Jasmine DePompeo, Navy (Sr.); Addie Godfrey, Lafayette (Sr.); Carli Sukonik, Lehigh (So.); Taylor Zebrowski, Holy Cross (Sr.)
Midfield: Emily Burton, American (Sr.); Jess Fellows, Navy (So.); Julie McBrien, Lehigh (Sr.);Laura Ryan, Holy Cross (So.); Ana White, Lafayette (Jr.)
Defense: Jenna Frost, Colgate (So.); Brijet Mall, Navy (Sr.); Rachel Martin, Lafayette (Jr.)
Goalkeeper: Jennie Berglin, Colgate (So.); Michelle Verbeeck, Navy (Sr.)
Note: Two additional attack and one additional goalkeeper due to ties in the voting.