Gators Picked Fifth in NCAC Coaches' Poll

Feb 27, 2008

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Allegheny lacrosse team was picked fifth in the North Coast Athletic Conference coaches’ preseason poll announced by the league on Wednesday.

The Gators, 4-9 in 2007, finished last season with a 2-4 mark in NCAC play while finishing fifth in the conference overall.

Denison and Wooster were chosen as co-favorites by the coaches, each totaling 37 points with the Scots picking up three of a possible six place votes. Ohio Wesleyan was tabbed third with 30 points and the lone remaining first place vote while Kenyon (26), Allegheny (15), Oberlin (12), and Wittenberg (11) rounded out the final four spots.

Allegheny enters its first year under head coach Paula Habel and will be led by a pair of returning all-conference performers, senior attacker Ashley Hughes (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and sophomore midfielder Meg Grossman (Lexington, Ky./Sayre School).

Hughes has been named a first-team All-NCAC pick in each of her three years and currently sits within 16 points and 33 goals of setting all-time Allegheny records. Grossman was an honorable mention pick as a freshman while finishing second on the team in ground balls (29) and draw controls (29).

Overall, the team returns three 20+ goal scorers and 11 of 12 starters from last year’s squad.

The Gators open the season on Saturday, March 8 against Buffalo State in a game that will be played at the University of Buffalo. The team also travels to R.I.T on March 23 before heading south for three games during the squad’s spring trip in West Palm Beach, Fla.

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