Jan. 24, 2006

Washington, D.C. -- The Georgetown University women's lacrosse team was selected to win the BIG EAST Conference as voted on by the league coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. It marks the fifth consecutive season the Hoyas have been selected as the pre-season favorites.

Since the BIG EAST added women's lacrosse in 2001, GU has compiled a 29-0 record against conference foes. Georgetown is one of only two teams in the country to advance to seven straight NCAA Quarterfinals.

Junior Coco Stanwick (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep) was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year while junior Chloe Asselin (Talloires, France/Edgemont) was selected as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Senior defender Stephanie Zodtner (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Team.

In the Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll, the Hoyas were chosen 10th while Inside Lacrosse picked the Hoyas 12th.

Stanwick was a candidate for the 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy and was a named IWLCA/US Lacrosse All-America First Teamer as a sophomore. Last season, Stanwick led the team and was tied for third in the nation with 59 goals while tying for seventh in the nation with 4.3 points per game (79 pts). She was also named BIG EAST Attacker of the Year.

Asselin was named IWLCA/US Lacrosse All-America Third Team in addition to earning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors. She ranked fourth on team in ground balls and led the team in 28 caused turnovers.

As a junior, Zodtner earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Zodtner led the team and led the BIG EAST with 44 ground balls. Ranked second on the team and sixth in the BIG EAST in caused turnovers.

The Hoyas will face one of the most difficult schedules in the country as Georgetown will take on seven of the nine teams ranked ahead of them in the Lacrosse Magazine poll.

Georgetown opens the season on Sunday, February 26 when they travel to Mt. St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md..