Feb. 11, 2010

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown women's lacrosse squad was selected seventh in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association's poll announced Tuesday. The Hoyas were picked to win the BIG EAST Conference last week and have been in the top 10 in a pair of other preseason polls.

Northwestern earned the top spot receiving all 20 first place votes with Maryland and Pennsylvania close behind. North Carolina and Duke rounded out the top five with BIG EAST rival Syracuse sitting just ahead of the Hoyas.

The BIG EAST was one of four conferences to have four teams named in the poll. Notre Dame and Loyola (Md.) were also on the list at eight and 14, respectively.

The Hoyas will face seven of the schools ranked in the top ten this season including Northwestern, Maryland, North Carolina, Duke, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Princeton. The addition of Loyola (Md.) makes nine total ranked squads on Georgetown's slate this year.

Georgetown was ranked sixth by Lacrosse Magazine and seventh by Inside Lacrosse earlier this season. Along with the top spot in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll, seniors Molly Ford (Reisterstown, Md./Notre Dame Prep) and Ashby Kaestner (Trappe, Md./Saints Peter and Paul) were both named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad.

The Hoyas will open the season at home on Multi-Sport Field against John's Hopkins on February 24. The opening draw is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.